Baku, July 30, AZERTAC
Ongoing investment in nuclear submarines will "protect Britain for decades to come" but also support 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships, Andy Burnham has said, according to BBC.
Speaking ahead of a visit to Barrow-in-Furness, where four new Dreadnought-class submarines are being built, the prime minister said: "Security is not only about what we build, it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it."
The project to replace existing nuclear submarines will receive £8.4bn to support progress towards getting the new vessels ready for service.
Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge welcomed progress on the submarine programme but accused Burnham of "failing to commit" to fully funding defence.
Burnham has said he wants to honour the UK's commitments on defence spending - including meeting a Nato target of spending 3.5% of national income by 2035.
A separate target to increase the UK's defence spending to 3% of GDP is another promise the Burnham government will face pressure to outline.
John Healey resigned as defence secretary under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership over frustrations that there was no clear timeline to meet that target.
Healey, who is the new Chancellor, and Burnham face the tricky task of finding the extra money needed to fulfil the pledges.