Thank you for that welcome. It is for me an honour to be asked by
the Prime Minister to serve in this role and to have the chance
to work with you all in the months and years ahead.
The work you do is vital and we are proud of the professionalism
and your dedication to serving this nation, both in uniform and
out. So thank you for everything that you do.
You will have my fullest support as your Defence Secretary.
We know these are serious times – war in Europe, conflict in the
Middle East, growing Russian aggression, increasing global
threats.
We know there are serious problems - with our Armed Forces
hollowed out and under funded for 14 years.
And this government now is totally committed to 2.5% of Defence
spending, to NATO, to the nuclear deterrent and to support for
Ukraine.
The country has new leadership. This Ministry has new leadership.
Our mission is to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad,
with the guiding principle of one Defence. Because it isn't just
those who serve in uniform who defend this country, it's those of
you who serve in the Civil Service, who work on the production
line, who staff the research labs, who develop software – and I
want to see Defence at the heart both of the future security of
this country, and the future success of this country.
And that means an Armed Forces well-equipped and ready to fight,
a skilled, scalable industrial base, a stronger relationship with
allies, a more influential MOD, a public that understands and
better supports, those who are willing to serve - those whose
service is the ultimate form of public service.
And I do have to tell you I am more interested in results than
photo opportunities. And I look forward to learning from your
experience and hearing your ideas about how we can develop one
Defence.
I will rely on your experience, your honesty. I'll rely on your
dedication to solve the problems, in delivering the government's
defence plans.
And I know I will also be inspired by what you do.
And as said in Downing Street, we
will be a government that respects all. So we will have an Armed
Forces and Civil Service, drawing on all the talents. We'll have
a culture that values all, and we'll have zero tolerance for any
abuse, in the military or the Civil Service.
We must forge one Defence, one mission: to make Britain secure at
home and strong abroad.
And to all of you, I and the ministerial team, look forward so
much to that opportunity to work with you, to deliver just that
for our country.
Thank you very much indeed.
