PM Unveils Billion-Dollar Investment for Barrow-in-Furness, Boosting Nuclear Industry and Regional Growth

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces a £20 million fund for Barrow-in-Furness, home to Britain's nuclear submarine and energy industries. This investment, alongside £180 million per year for the next decade, aims to create over 8,000 career opportunities, support skills and education, and enhance transport and health outcomes in the area. The Prime Minister emphasizes the vital role of the nuclear industry in national security and energy independence, highlighting the need to safeguard Britain's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and provide cleaner, home-grown energy for consumers.

Prime Minister Outlines Multibillion-Dollar Investment in Barrow-in-Furness to Support Nuclear Industry and Regional Growth

Barrow-in-Furness, the Cumbrian town that is the birthplace of Britain's Astute-class submarines and Dreadnought program, is set to receive a substantial financial boost from the government. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a new fund backed by £20 million ($24 million) in public funds to support growth in the area.

The government has also committed to investing an additional £180 million ($216 million) per year over the next decade. This funding will provide grants to local organizations and improvements to transport and healthcare outcomes in the region.

Industry Partners Pledge Investment

Industry leaders, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, EDF, and Babcock, are partnering with the government to invest around £763 million ($918 million) in skills, jobs, and education. The government hopes that this investment will create more than 8,000 career opportunities and help the sector fill 40,000 new roles by the end of the decade.

Safeguarding the Nuclear Future

"Safeguarding the future of our nuclear deterrent and nuclear energy industry is a critical national endeavor," Prime Minister Sunak said ahead of his visit to Barrow-in-Furness. "In a more dangerous and contested world, the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent is more vital than ever. And nuclear delivers cheaper, cleaner home-grown energy for consumers."

Defense Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper

The government will also lay the Defense Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper in Parliament on Monday. This paper will outline the full breadth of activity aimed at sustaining and modernizing Britain's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.

Calls for Increased Defense Spending

The announcement comes amid growing criticism of the government's resistance to calls for an increase in defense spending. Concerns have been raised about the global risk posed by countries like Russia and China. Foreign Office Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Security Minister Tom Tugendhat have called for a "much greater pace" of investment, while Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has said he wants a "bigger budget" and has called for military spending to be increased to 3% of GDP.

Barrow Transformation Fund

The Barrow Transformation Fund will be managed by the Barrow Delivery Board in collaboration with local leaders, who will allocate funding to areas of greatest need. The initial £20 million from the Treasury will go towards projects such as the completion of construction on the A595 Grizebeck Bypass and "supporting people towards work."

Political Reactions

John Healey, the Labour Party's shadow defense secretary, welcomed the government's commitment but said Labour had "long argued" for ministers to secure jobs in Barrow and that Britain would be "better defended" under his party.

SNP defense spokesperson Martin Docherty-Hughes MP condemned the plans to "waste another £200 million" on nuclear and accused both main parties of focusing on "the wrong priorities."

Labour's Energy Plan

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will travel to North Wales to renew the party's commitment to a publicly owned clean energy company that it says could "get (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's boot off our throat."

Sir Keir will pledge to "turbocharge jobs and growth" for Wales with GB Energy, a plan to boost homegrown green power including wind farms and carbon capture.

"In an increasingly insecure world, with tyrants using energy as an economic weapon, Britain must take back control of our national energy security," Sir Keir said. "After 14 years of a Tory Government kowtowing to fossil fuel dictators, Labour's plan for energy independence would get Putin's boot off our throat and power up communities across Britain."