, Defence Secretary, speech at
Labour Party Conference 2025.
"Conference, it is an honour to speak in this international
debate.
A debate dominated by the agonies of the Palestinians in Gaza. A
debate in which we redouble our determination to work for the end
of the Israeli offensive, the release of all the hostages, the
flood of aid that is so badly needed and the two-state solution
which is the only hope of a lasting peace.
Conference, I'm proud to address you again as your Labour's
Defence Secretary. Proud that after 12 months of change, we have
given our Armed Forces the biggest pay increase in two decades.
We have brought 36,000 military homes back into public ownership.
We've announced record levels of support for veterans, won a
£10bn warship deal with Norway, securing 4,000 well-paid union
jobs for the next 15 years and made the biggest increase in
defence spending since the end of the Cold War.
This is Labour - Delivering for Defence, delivering for
Britain.
Three weeks ago, I was in Kyiv. I saw homes bombed and buildings
destroyed. I met Ukrainian troops and drone factory workers -
they're defiant, they're determined. Fighting back Putin's brutal
invasion.
Their freedom is our freedom, and a secure Europe needs a strong,
sovereign Ukraine.
That is why we've stepped up UK leadership on Ukraine providing
the highest-ever level of UK military aid this year, providing
the highest-ever level of UK military aid this year and leading
over 30 nations in the Coalition of the Willing – ready to
provide the security guarantees for when peace comes.
1,313 days into this war, I'm proud that Labour – proud that
Britain – remains united for Ukraine.
And Conference, our message to Moscow from Liverpool today is
this:
President Putin, you will not win. Stop the killing, start
the talks, agree a peace. We will stand with Ukraine for as
long as it takes.
Conference, we are now living in a new era of threat, which
demands a new era for defence. That is why we're making this
historic increase in defence spending.
With this Labour investment, we're making Britain more secure and
we're making defence an engine for growth - with a "defence
dividend" measured in good jobs right across the United Kingdom.
Defence proves that we are still, at heart, a nation of
makers.
Warships, we make them in Glasgow. Submarines, we make them in
Barrow. Armoured vehicles, we make them in South Wales. In
Sheffield, artillery barrels. In Swindon, advanced drones. In
Plymouth, AI systems and, of course, those frigates for Norway –
we start them across the Mersey here in Liverpool.
Conference, with Labour's defence spending I want to make Britain
the best place in the world to invest and grow a defence
business.
We will make more in Britain. We will back British industry, back
British innovation and back British jobs.
This is Labour. Delivering for Defence and delivering for
Britain.
But conference, you know who won't back defence jobs? The
Scottish nationalists. They refused to fund a new advanced
welding centre in Glasgow.
So, I can announce today that the Labour Government will step in
with the funding needed. They won't. We will.
And what of the other parties? Are they better on defence?
The Tories - they left our Armed Forces “hollowed out and
underfunded.”
The Lib Dems - they cut the British Army to the smallest size
since Napoleon. Reform - they praise Putin and they put down
NATO.
Conference, we are the party that created NATO in that great
Atlee government after the war. Now, we are the Party growing
jobs and growing the Army. The Party facing down Russia and
strengthening NATO.
Conference, Labour is again the party of Britain's defence.
As Defence Secretary, I get to work with some of the most
outstanding people day in, day out and if you ever need reasons
to feel proud about Britain – then look at those who serve this
country to defend us all.
Our soldiers on NATO's frontline with Russia. Our pilots dropping
aid into Gaza. Our submariners patrolling the seas for weeks on
end. Our sailors on the carrier reassuring allies in the Indo
Pacific.
I say to them, we can't fix 14 years of Tory failure overnight,
but Labour will match your dedication with our determination to
support you, and to improve service life. That starts with better
homes.
A few weeks into Government, I visited a military base. I
saw the result of years of Tory neglect - damp, mould, pests. One
house had a hole in a children's bedroom wall.
That's why we've pledged an extra £1.5bn for military homes in
this Parliament and launched a new ‘Consumer Charter' to drive
higher housing standards.
And today we go further, we launch a new ‘Forces First' approach
to housing.
We'll offer those in our Forces priority access to new homes
built on surplus MOD land, making homeownership a reality for
more Forces personnel and veterans. Better homes, better pay,
better lives.
Conference, this is Labour. Delivering for Defence. Delivering
for Britain. This is Labour. Just one year into Government.
Much done, but so much more to do. This is Labour. Making this
country secure at home, and strong abroad. Renewing our country
for good. Thank you."
