Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham has vowed to rebuild the UK’s “hard power” by allocating billions of extra defence spending to British firms.
Mr Burnham, in his first foreign policy intervention, wants to steer defence procurement away from European and American companies and boost homegrown firms.
He said he wanted to “level with” the public about the amount of money required to meet the UK’s promise to Nato to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.
The additional money, Mr Burnham has said, will be ploughed into “regenerating and reindustrialising the country”, with efforts to boost British jobs and workers.
The Makerfield MP said reducing foreign reliance was “critical for both our economic and national security” and would be a key focus of his upcoming premiership.
Despite arguing he would step away from foreign reliance for defence procurement, Mr Burnham said he would build stronger relations with Europe on security.
He also said he would aim for quicker negotiations with the EU more broadly, such as tackling illegal migration and turbocharging economic growth.
Support for international law and institutions such as the UN would continue while he is in office, he added.
Mr Burnham’s comments come as Sir Keir Starmer met with other world leaders for the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey.
The two-day meeting witnessed US President Donald Trump announcing America would attack Iran “hard again”, with the ceasefire being over.
The US conducted a fresh wave of strikes on Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Mr Trump also weighed in on Sir Keir, pointing out he made the US wait two weeks before they could use the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands.
He also made a scathing attack towards Spain, calling them a “terrible partner”, calling upon his Treasury secretary to cut off all trade with the southern European nation.
The US President also renewed his threats to purchased Greenland from Denmark.
As the Nato leaders agreed to increase defence spending by “more than $50billion in new procurements”, Mr Burnham at home vowed Britain needed to go “further than ever before” by executing the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
He said: “It is right that we rebuild our hard power for a new era that is very different to the one in which much of our current military equipment was first designed.
“Crucially, as we do so, I want to ensure we back British workers and businesses.
“This means we must go much further than ever before through the defence investment plan in backing British resilience, using a sustained increase in defence investment not only to provide the kit our armed forces need, but also to generate economic growth and create apprenticeships and jobs in communities that have seen opportunities drain away.”
He said he wanted greater transparency about how defence money is spent, calling for detailed public progress updates and more accountability to prevent cost overruns and delays.
Jonathan Powell would remain as national security adviser, Mr Burnham said, adding he wanted “the best and most experienced advisers when it comes to national security”.
Mr Burnham said he saw Britain’s strength at home and abroad as inseparable.
He argued foreign and economic policy, security, social cohesion and British values were “inextricably linked elements of the same strategic question”.
The incoming Prime Minister said his No10 North agenda and devolution of power across the UK would form part of a broader strategy to regenerate and reindustrialise the country.
He concluded: “This is how we can ensure a resurgent Britain in a more dangerous world, drawing strength both from our allies abroad and from our communities at home.”
