PM Burnham confirms 8 billion pounds for nuclear submarines
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced 8 billion pounds in funding for nuclear submarines and faced questions on defence spending targets.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed an 8.4 billion pound investment in the next generation of nuclear submarines, the Dreadnought class, which will maintain the UK's continuous at-sea deterrent. The announcement was made during a visit to the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, alongside Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. The funding was originally committed by the previous government under Keir Starmer, but Burnham's confirmation signals his administration's continued support for the programme.
However, the prime minister faces growing pressure over medium-term defence spending targets. The previous government had pledged to increase spending to 2.68% of GDP by 2030, with an ambition to reach 3% by that year. Burnham has so far refused to guarantee that 3% target, instead committing only to a longer-term goal of 3.5% by 2035. This has become a contentious issue, particularly after the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary under Starmer, who argued that the Treasury was unwilling to properly fund the military. Healey is now chancellor in Burnham's government.
The debate over defence spending is set against a backdrop of heightened global threats, including the war in Ukraine and recent US strikes on Iran. Former National Security Adviser Lord Ricketts noted that the visit to Barrow revealed more about Burnham's style than substance, emphasising the prime minister's focus on linking defence investment to jobs and apprenticeships. Critics argue that failing to commit to the 3% target by 2030 leaves Britain vulnerable, while Burnham has previously suggested he would fund longer-term military spending by reducing the welfare bill.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnham has not committed to 3% of GDP defence spending by 2030. | |||
| PM Burnham confirmed 8 billion pounds for nuclear submarines. | |||
| Burnham committed to 3.5% of GDP defence spending by 2035. | · | ||
| John Healey resigned as defence secretary under Keir Starmer in protest over insufficient funding commitments. | · | ||
| The previous prime minister aimed for defence spending to rise to 2.68% of GDP by 2030, with an ambition to reach 3%. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the political context and the unresolved question of medium-term defence spending targets. It highlighted the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary under Keir Starmer and the pressure on Burnham to commit to 3% of GDP by 2030. The tone was analytical, framing the announcement as a continuation of previous policy rather than a new initiative.
- “Andy Burnham confirming a previously sort of committed investment into the next generation of nuclear submarines, say, you know, just over eight billion pounds will go towards that.”
- “the big question that he will face is whether he can commit to that medium term defence spending targets.”
- “the previous prime minister, Keir Starmer, has said that there are threats. There is a possibility that Russia could attack NATO countries as soon as the end of the decade.”
5 News placed the announcement in the context of recent US strikes on Iran and the war in Ukraine, emphasising the urgency of defence spending. It included an expert comment from Lord Ricketts, who noted the announcement was more about style than substance. The tone was slightly more critical, highlighting that the funding was already signed off by the previous government and that Burnham is leaving the 3% target unfulfilled.
- “It was the funding of these and other parts of the military that delivered the fatal blow to Kyrgyzstan.”
- “I think this told us more about Andy Burnham's style than about the substance, because this is essentially money that was already in that defence investment plan that Keir Starmer had published before he resigned.”
- “Mr Burnham has previously suggested he plans to find the billions for longer-term military spending by reducing the welfare bill.”
Broadcast Timeline
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