Labour needs to 'rearm Britain' with 'more muscular defence', defence secretary warns

18 February 2025, 12:45 | Updated: 18 February 2025, 13:20

Labour needs to "rearm Britain" with "more muscular defence", the defence secretary has warned as he promised to reform the armed forces.

John Healey said the UK is in a "new era of threat and that demands a new era for defence" in a speech at the Institute for Government on Tuesday.

He revealed new reforms for defence spending to reduce duplication, which he said would mean "better value for taxpayers and better outcomes for the armed forces".

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The defence secretary was speaking the morning after Sir Keir Starmer met European leaders for an emergency meeting over what to do about defence spending following a dramatic change in US policy.

Donald Trump has said the US no longer sees the defence of Europe as its primary concern - a major policy change after 80 years - and called for Europe to spend more on helping Ukraine in the war with Russia, while the US should spend less.

Mr Healey supported Sir Keir Starmer's comments saying any peace deal between Ukraine and Russia must have a "backstop" from the US to prevent Vladimir Putin from attacking again.

He said details of a US security guarantee for Ukraine are "being developed" and decisions made in the next few weeks will define "the security of our world for a generation".

Sir Keir will discuss that with President Trump when they meet the week after next, he added.

Mr Healey said the reforms will include four new leaders in the Ministry of Defence whose jobs will involve trimming down costs, planning for war, driving growth and delivering the UK's nuclear programme.

He said they would save taxpayers "at least £10bn over the next decade" that will be reinvested "directly" into Britain's defence.

The "quad" will report directly to him and his ministers to ensure they are accountable "to the British people and to the British parliament".

Mr Healey said they will have a "£20bn plus" budget to build up a "national arms arsenal".

"Because at this time we must rearm Britain," the defence secretary said.

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He added: "The world is changing. Defence is changing. Our reform programme represents the biggest shake-up of UK defence for over 50 years.

"This is a government whose commitment to defence is unshakeable. It's the foundation for our plan for change, for the delivery of our government's missions.

"We will match sustained investment with serious reform. It will mean growing the economy.

"It'll mean a more muscular defence for a more dangerous world. It will mean Britain, which is secure at home and strong abroad."

(c) Sky News 2025: Labour needs to 'rearm Britain' with 'more muscular defence', defence secretary warns