NUCLEAR STARMERMENT

Deterrent 'triple lock' with 4 new subs

- ASHLEY COWBURN

KEIR Starmer will today give a cast-iron guarantee to boost the UK's nuclear deterrent.

As Britain prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, he will pitch Labour as the "party of national security".

The Labour leader will commit to a nuclear deterrent "triple lock". This will involve the construction of four new nuclear subs in Barrow-inFurness, Cumbria, maintaining the existing fleet patrolling the waters "24 hours a day, 365 days a year", and the delivery of all future upgrades needed.

The Vanguard-class submarines are due to be replaced by the bigger Dreadnoughts in the 2030s, costing between £31billion and £41bn.

Mr Starmer will also stick by his promise to raise defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product.

His pledges come just weeks after Rishi Sunak desperately attempted to paint Mr Starmer as a risk to national security, leaving the country less safe.