08 October 2023 , 21:30
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Five more years of Tory rule poses the “greatest risk” to the UK’s defence, Labour will warn tomorrow.
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey will pledge that “Britain will be better defended with Labour” when he delivers his party conference speech in the morning. He is expected to rail against Conservative cuts to the military, with the Army shrinking from 82,000 troops to ust 72,500, tanks scrapped and fighter jets stripped for parts.
Mr Healey is due to commit to “reviewing and reinforcing protections for the UK homeland and overseas territories” when he addresses party activists in Liverpool. Labour will also vow to create an “independent champion for forces’ personnel and their families” who will be tasked with fighting their cause in the corridors of power.
Mr Healey will accuse ministers of “corroding” the country’s “moral contract” with soldiers, sailors and airmen. It comes at growing dismay in the Army, Royal Navy and RAF at the state of service accommodation. The Labour frontbencher will renew his promise to “reform defence procurement to direct British defence investment first to British jobs and British businesses”, saying the Government has "hollowed out and underfunded" the armed forces.
Labour would pump £2billion into vital supplies of weapons and ammunition to rearm Britain, resupply Ukraine and boost British industry, he will announce.
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Taking aim at the Conservatives, Mr Healey will tell delegates: "They've failed to fix the broken defence procurement system – wasting billions and too often creating jobs abroad, not building in Britain. The greatest risk to defence is another five years of the Conservatives." He will add: "In the next year now – together – we can win. Together, let’s get Britain’s future back."