Prime Minister Andy Burnham devoted less than 35 seconds of his Labour Party Conference speech to defence, omitting a promised roadmap to meet NATO's new 3.5% spending target by 2035. The omission drew immediate criticism from opposition parties and sparked concerns over the UK's preparedness amid rising global tensions.
Speaking in Liverpool under the slogan 'Hope Again', Burnham acknowledged Britain “isn’t where any of us would want it to be” but focused his address on domestic reforms. The most controversial announcement was the plan to scrap the triple lock from 2030 to fund social care, a move likely to upset pensioners.
Bare Minimum on Defence
In the brief passage on defence, Burnham said: “A country which invests in people’s success, rather than abandoning them and paying for failure, will be much more resilient to the shocks we will undoubtedly face in the rest of this century. And more able to meet its NATO obligations on defence.”
He added: “This leadership we are showing at home will be matched on the international stage. I will be steadfast in my support for Ukraine and stand up to threats wherever they come from. Whether Russia, Iran or anywhere.”
A few sentences later, he pledged “a plan for Britain that will enhance our social security and our national security”.
Missed Open Goal
Just a day earlier, Burnham had suggested he would use the speech to announce a roadmap to hitting the new NATO spending target of 3.5% by 2035. The roadmap never materialised. Both the Tories and Lib Dems slammed the lack of defence focus.
The silence comes against a backdrop of rising tensions, with fears of intensifying Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks. The Armed Forces chief has said Britain is facing its “most dangerous period” in his 35-year career, and the head of MI6 has warned that the world is “more dangerous and contested now” than it has been for decades.
Plans to reform the triple lock, overhaul the electoral system and bolster public control of the water industry will do nothing to protect our skies or waters.
