Prime Minister바카라 사이트檚 remarks at the London Defence Conference: 8 May 2025
Prime Minister바카라 사이트檚 speech at the London Defence Conference this morning.
It is a real privilege to be able to speak to you here today on VE Day.
80 years to the day바카라 사이트�
Since an expectant nation turned on the wireless 바카라 사이트� as of course it was then바카라 사이트�
To hear Churchill announce victory in our war against Nazi Germany. 聽
Just imagine it.
Beacons lit across the country바카라 사이트�
Bunting up바카라 사이트�
People raising their glasses and thanking the bravery of our armed forces바카라 사이트�
As we will do today.
And then they came to the streets.
The late Queen Elizabeth II 바카라 사이트� who was then a young princess of just 19 바카라 사이트�
Remembering going unnoticed in the crowds, swept up in a 바카라 사이트榯ide of happiness and relief바카라 사이트�.
A celebration of defiance바카라 사이트β�
Of sacrifice바카라 사이트�
The courage of that lion-hearted generation바카라 사이트�
The greatest victory in the history of this great nation.
A victory not just for Britain.
But for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil바카라 사이트�
For the light of our values 바카라 사이트� in a world that tried to put them out.
And, as you know바카라 사이트�
There are people who would happily do likewise today.
Our values and security are confronted on a daily basis.
And we have to rise to this moment.
80 years ago, just round the corner from here, Churchill said바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트淲e must begin the task of rebuilding바카라 사이트�
Do our utmost to make this country a land in which all have a chance바카라 사이트�
And in which all have a duty to our countrymen바카라 사이트�.
The post-war generation took on that task on with relish.
And we must use this moment바카라 사이트�
To do the same.
Deepening our partnerships with allies old and new 바카라 사이트�
From across Europe to meet the defence challenges of our age바카라 사이트�
To the United States바카라 사이트�
an indispensable ally for our economic and national security바카라 사이트�
As you know, talks with the US have been ongoing 바카라 사이트� and you바카라 사이트檒l hear more about that later today.
But make no mistake 바카라 사이트� I will always act in our national interest바카라 사이트�
For workers, businesses and families바카라 사이트�
To deliver security and renewal for our country.
Because the world has changed, decisively.
I mean, I remember 바카라 사이트� as some of you will also too바카라 사이트�
The day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.
A landmark moment for my generation.
A sense of freedom, of possibility, of peace.
European countries finally free to choose their own future.
I didn바카라 사이트檛 think then that in my lifetime I would see Russian tanks entering a European country again.
Yet here we are.
And here we stand resolutely바카라 사이트�
With the people of Ukraine.
Together with our allies바카라 사이트�
Showing the strength of our values바카라 사이트�
As well as the value of our strength.
A few weeks ago, I was with the Prime Minister of New Zealand바카라 사이트�
To visit our forces delivering Operation INTERFLEX in Wiltshire.
This is a multinational military operation바카라 사이트�
That has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops for the frontline.
Men and women who are not soldiers by trade바카라 사이트�
Far from it.
They are accountants, they are builders, businesspeople, you name it.
Who stepped up from their lives바카라 사이트�
Stepped away from their families바카라 사이트�
And, as veterans did eighty years ago바카라 사이트�
Answered the call to defend freedom and liberty in their homeland.
And as these brave men and women leave their training in Britain바카라 사이트�
And head to the frontline of freedom바카라 사이트�
They are applauded by their British trainers. 聽
I바카라 사이트檝e seen this a couple of times now 바카라 사이트� it바카라 사이트檚 a really humbling sight.
A sign of our support and solidary in their struggle바카라 사이트�
Pride and admiration at their courage. 聽
Because in this country we know - this isn바카라 사이트檛 just a fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine.
No 바카라 사이트� it is a new, more dangerous era of history.
A period of global instability바카라 사이트�
That fuels insecurity for working people here at home.
The British people have already paid a price for Putin바카라 사이트檚 aggression in Ukraine, with rising bills and prices.
Russia already menaces our security바카라 사이트�
They바카라 사이트檝e launched cyber-attacks on our NHS.
Spread disinformation online바카라 사이트�
And we cannot forget, just a few years ago 바카라 사이트� a chemical weapons attack on our streets in Salisbury.
In broad daylight, in the heart of England.
No - the battle lines in Ukraine are the front line for Western values.
And the argument that defines this age is simple바카라 사이트β�
National security is economic security.
And that is why we are boosting defence spending, with the largest sustained increase since the Cold War바카라 사이트�
An increase of 拢13.4bn year on year compared with where we are today.聽
Not just meeting our commitment to spend 2.5% of our GDP on defence바카라 사이트�
But bringing it forward to 2027.聽
And, alongside that, a new ambition for defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.
But look, I do want to be clear - this investment has two objectives.
Yes of course, the first goal is always the safety and security of the United Kingdom.聽
But the second is to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in every corner of our country.聽
Secure at home, strong abroad.
You know 바카라 사이트� at times like this there is a lot of talk about the end of the peace dividend.
Well, our task now is to seize the聽defence聽dividend.
Felt directly in the pockets of working people.
Rebuilding our industrial base.
Creating the jobs of the future.
The skills for the next generation바카라 사이트�
From the shipyards in Scotland바카라 사이트�
To the missile systems built in Stevenage and Belfast바카라 사이트�.
The artillery barrels made at Sheffield forgemasters바카라 사이트�
And the land vehicle development in Wales바카라 사이트�
Mark my words 바카라 사이트� the British defence industry will be the engine of national renewal.
Because this isn바카라 사이트檛 just about increasing our defence spending바카라 사이트�
It바카라 사이트檚 also about reform and rebuilding.
And in the coming weeks, we will publish a first-of-its kind, root and branch strategic defence review바카라 사이트�
It will scrutinise every aspect of defence - to determine how we can best meet the threats of today바카라 사이트�
And return Britain to warfighting readiness.
Alongside our National Security Strategy and our defence industrial strategy바카라 사이트�
We will set out a major overhaul of the British Armed Services바카라 사이트�
Starting by treating our Armed Forces with the respect that they deserve 바카라 사이트�
delivering the largest pay rise for over 20 years바카라 사이트�
And good homes for service personnel and their families.
But also - the biggest shift in mindset in my lifetime 바카라 사이트�
To see security and defence바카라 사이트�
Not as one priority amongst many others바카라 사이트�
But as the central organising principle of government 바카라 사이트�
The first thought in the morning 바카라 사이트� the last at night바카라 사이트�
The pillar on which everything else stands or falls. 聽
Because 바카라 사이트� as in 1945바카라 사이트�
This has to be a collective endeavour.
A national effort.
A time for the state, business and society to join hands바카라 사이트�
In pursuit of the security of the nation바카라 사이트�
And the prosperity of its people. 聽
So whether you바카라 사이트檙e a world-renowned business바카라 사이트�
Or a smaller, family-run firm바카라 사이트�
You have a vital part to play in boosting Britain바카라 사이트檚 defences.
That is why we have launched a new unit - to help SMEs get their foot in the door of the defence supply chain.聽
Because I am clear 바카라 사이트� the future belongs to the innovators.
Take the announcement made just last week바카라 사이트�
StormShroud drones바카라 사이트�
Flying as uncrewed guardians to RAF pilots and crew바카라 사이트�
Now, for the first time, made in Britain.
An investment that supports hundreds of highly skilled jobs바카라 사이트�
Boosting our capabilities for the modern age of drone-based warfare. 聽
Possible - only because of industry and military working together.
Or take the submarines that we바카라 사이트檙e building in Barrow.
This one is personal for me.
Not just because I was there in Barrow at the keel laying in March 바카라 사이트�
Not just because I met the workers and the apprentices and saw for myself what it means for them바카라 사이트�
And of course the 42,000 jobs it supports up and down the country바카라 사이트�
It바카라 사이트檚 also personal for me because just a few days before that visit바카라 사이트�
I went up to the Firth of Clyde, as another boat made in Barrow 바카라 사이트�
A Vanguard-class submarine바카라 사이트�
Was coming in off a record-breaking patrol.
We boarded the sub and met the crew 바카라 사이트� who had been at sea for months on end.
And meeting those remarkable men and women is something I바카라 사이트檒l never forget.
There is no greater duty than the one that they carry 바카라 사이트�
No task more vital.
Our security바카라 사이트�
Nato바카라 사이트檚 security바카라 사이트�
Depends on them.
They are the quiet custodians of the nation바카라 사이트檚 greatest capability바카라 사이트�
Part of an unbroken watch that has been maintained for 55 years.
And in this moment 바카라 사이트� it바카라 사이트檚 time for the rest of us to step up and rebuild our country바카라 사이트�
Leading the world in the opportunities of the future.
Recently, I visited the Carrier Strike Group off the coast of Cornwall바카라 사이트�
And stayed aboard HMS Prince of Wales바카라 사이트�
It was frankly humbling to see F35s taking off with just 100metres of deck to take off - and then returning and hovering to land on a sixpence
So imagine how I felt later the very same day when I went to see the apprentices at Rolls Royce바카라 사이트ho had made the engines for those very F35s.
And we need to keep those apprentices busy바카라 사이트�
And mark my words 바카라 사이트� we are going to do that.
With the most ambitious programme of work to secure and rebuild our country since 1945.
Take an example: today, I can announce a 拢563 million contract to maintain Britain바카라 사이트檚 fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.
The backbone of Britain바카라 사이트檚 air defence바카라 사이트�
Proudly part of the flypast for VE Day that you may have seen on Monday.
All 130 Typhoons will have their engines maintained by Rolls-Royce바카라 사이트�
Supporting hundreds of jobs in Bristol and beyond바카라 사이트�
Defending British airspace.
Helping a new generation of service come of age.
And just imagine 바카라 사이트� what this means for a young apprentice, aged about 18.
Entering into the work force with a good job.
The pride of that work - as a proud I understand from my dad바카라 사이트�
Of knowing that what you do, what you make聽matters.
The pride of following in the footsteps of local families바카라 사이트�
Who have been the backbone of their communities for generations.
The grandchildren of the young men who fought on the beaches of Normandy바카라 사이트�
Now the submariners on a Vanguard-class submarine.
The descendants of the code breakers at Bletchley바카라 사이트�
Now learning the skills to build a new generation of nuclear submarines in Barrow.
And the pride of stepping into our national story바카라 사이트�
So those who follow us can say바카라 사이트�
We also rose to meet the moment.
We also stood firm against tyranny and oppression.
We also rebuilt Britain - so it serves everyone that serves our country.
Because on VE day 80 years ago바카라 사이트�
Politicians of all parties and stripes understood that a people who had sacrificed so much were owed a great debt.
And the truth is 바카라 사이트� people today are too.
After years of being buffeted about by insecurity and uncertainty바카라 사이트�
They are owed the same security바카라 사이트�
the same prosperity and peace of mind바카라 사이트�
A good home to live in바카라 사이트�
A well-paid job with strong rights at work바카라 사이트�
An NHS that is there for them when they need it바카라 사이트�
all underpinned by the foundation of national security.
A defence dividend - that聽will聽be felt in the pockets of working people and the prosperity of the country.
An investment in peace바카라 사이트�
But also an investment in British pride and the British people바카라 사이트�
To build a nation that, once again, lives up to the promises made to that generation바카라 사이트�
Who fought for our values, our freedom and our security.
Thank you very much indeed.
Factual note: Pratt & Whittney are the prime contractor for the F-135 engine that is fitted to all variants of the F-35. Rolls-Royce are a supplier of some of the components of the lift fan system.
Updates to this page
-
Added a footnote.
-
First published.