Prime Minister Andy Burnham is placing the renewal of the Trident nuclear submarine program at the core of his economic strategy
The new prime minister, Andy Burnham is set to unveil his vision for a reindustrialized Britain, with the renewal of the Trident nuclear submarine program at its heart. His upcoming visit to Barrow-in-Furness marks the launch of the next phase of the Dreadnought-class submarine replacement program, a project valued at £31 billion.
Burnham aims to demonstrate how defense spending on projects like the Dreadnought-class submarines can revitalize communities across the UK. The new phase of contracts, worth £8.4 billion is expected to support an additional 18,000 jobs in nuclear defense by 2030 and create 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035.
Burnham’s Pro-Trident Stance
The prime minister’s visit to Barrow-in-Furness also serves as an opportunity to reinforce his support for Trident. Burnham voted in favor of building new submarines in 2016, a decision that caused a split within the Labour Party.
His stance aligns with that of Wes Streeting the new defense secretary, and John Healey the chancellor, who also voted in favor of the program.
The UK’s military nuclear activities currently support 47,000 jobs including 13,500 in the Barrow shipyard. The surrounding constituency, historically a Conservative stronghold, was retaken by Labour in the 2026 election.
The Dreadnought Program and Its Implications
The Dreadnought-class submarines are designed to replace the aging Vanguard-class submarines, which currently carry Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Each existing submarine can carry 40 nuclear warheads with enough destructive power to target major cities.
The largest share of the latest phase of work in the Dreadnought program is being awarded to BAE Systems the owner of the Barrow shipyard. The British defense giant has been awarded a new £5.9 billion contract to complete the build of the first four new boats, with the first, HMS Dreadnought expected to be ready for service in the early 2030s.
The The program’s complexity has led to it being placed on amber alert by government procurement monitors.
Burnham’s Defense Spending Commitments
Burnham, who entered office just over a week ago, has immediately leaned into a Nato commitment to increase defense spending by over £25 billion a year to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035. However, he has declined to commit to hitting 3% by 2030 an interim target suggested by his predecessor, Keir Starmer.
The new prime minister has emphasized the importance of honoring Nato commitments, stating that it means being prepared to look at challenging issues. The Dreadnought program is a key part of this strategy, demonstrating how defense spending can drive economic growth and job creation.
The program also involves AWE in Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, which employ 9,000 people to design and build Trident warheads. Additionally, 4,000 employees at Rolls-Royce in Derby help build the nuclear reactors that power the Dreadnought and other submarines used by the Royal Navy.
