Defence spending will boost skilled jobs, says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has said that Viadimir Putin fears Britain’s nuclear weapons, saying that Trident continues to be a crucial deterrent as Russia resists efforts for peace in Ukraine. Speaking ahead of a visit to Barrow on Thursday — where he will lay the keel for the next generation of Britain’s nuclear deterrent submarines—the prime minister said it has proven “incredibly effective” since its introduction in the 1990s. Speaking about Russia, Sir Keir said: “I think they appreciate our capability. What is obviously important is that they appreciate that it is what it is, which is a credible capability”. He agreed that it is right for Putin to respect Britain's nuclear deterrent, adding: “And that's why the UK is within Europe as one of the leading nations on defence and security, because we've got our independent deterrent and we're committed to Nato.”

- Keir Starmer

The PM’s remarks come ahead of a crucial meeting of military figures taking place in the UK on Thursday as planning for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine moves into an “operational phase” Sir Keir is expected to meet with defence planners after he announced at the weekend that military chiefs would gather to “put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security”, He has been trying to assemble a coalition of nations that would be willing to help enforce any peace deal that could be reached between Kyiv and Moscow. Speaking to reporters ahead of the visit to Barrow, he said: “It has been an incredibly effective deterrent for decades and we must not take that for granted. Which is why it’s good that we're going to the Dreadnought class.