Blackpool must benefit from defence investment
We are living in a more dangerous and uncertain world than at any time in recent decades and that has rightly prompted a serious debate about defence spending.
Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine, growing instability across Europe and the Middle East and emerging security threats mean Britain can’t afford to stand still when it comes to national defence.
The question is no longer whether Britain needs to invest more in defence. We do.
The real question is how we do it fairly and make sure communities in places like my hometown of Blackpool benefit from that investment too.
For years under Conservative governments our armed forces and defence infrastructure have been hollowed out and underfunded. That’s not just my view – those are the words of former Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace following years of cuts and short-term thinking.
Rebuilding Britain’s defence capability will take time and serious investment. But if we are asking the public to support that investment, people deserve honesty about why it is needed and clarity about where the benefits will be felt.
As the MP for Blackpool South, I represent many hard-working people already under pressure from rising living costs. Any decisions about how defence investment is funded must be fair and protect working people. I believe the British people understand the seriousness of the threats we face and will support investment in our national security if they can see a clear purpose and a clear benefit.
The good news is that defence investment, done properly, is not just about protecting our country. It can create skilled jobs, strengthen local economies and open up real opportunities for young people. This government is clear that every pound spent on defence should work twice – once for Britain’s security and once for British industry.
We are already seeing that happen on the Fylde Coast. Blackpool & The Fylde College has recently been selected as one of just five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in England as part of a £50 million national programme to strengthen defence skills training. It will also be the only DTEC in the North West, placing our area at the heart of the region’s defence skills pipeline.
This is what a modern defence strategy should look like: investing not only in equipment and infrastructure, but in people. For young people in Blackpool, it means pathways into highly skilled careers in areas such as cyber, drones, combat air and nuclear programmes.
The Army recruiting at my jobs fair
In Lancashire we see the impact major employers such as BAE Systems have in creating high-quality careers for young people and sustaining thousands of jobs across our region.
In November secured a deal for new Typhoon orders from Türkiye over the line. The agreement is worth £8 billion and will secure around 20,000 highly skilled jobs across the UK, including around 6,000 at BAE Systems in Lancashire, where components of the planes are manufactured. Other parts of the UK benefit too, with Rolls-Royce in Bristol and Leonardo in Edinburgh playing key roles.
National security and economic security go hand in hand. If we get this right, investment in defence can help build not only a safer country but a stronger and more prosperous future for communities like Blackpool and for Britain as a whole.
