Healey hails ‘new age of industrialisation’ brought by Royal Navy
Chancellor John Healey will make upgrades to the Royal Navy central to his flagship speech at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday as he promised a “new age of industrialisation’. The former defence secretary has indicated that shipbuilding will make a key part of Andy Burnham’s pledge to revive Britain’s industrial base across the country. [...]
Former defence secretary John Healey is set to emphasize the Royal Navy's role in his upcoming Labour Party conference speech, touting it as a cornerstone of the UK's "new age of industrialisation". The former Labour minister, now in the Treasury, will announce three new floating docks and a £115 million marine research vessel, both to be constructed in British shipyards.
Healey's speech will underscore that shipbuilding and maritime activity are reshaping Britain's industrial legacy for the modern era, in line with his background in the South Yorkshire industrial heartlands. While coal mining is not returning, Healey is confident that this surge in shipbuilding will rejuvenate Britain's industrial past, fostering a renewed sense of national confidence.
Healey, who left the Starmer government over his disagreement with the unwillingness and inability to boost defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030, believes that investing in defence can drive economic growth. However, economists remain divided on the effectiveness of defence-focused investments compared to those in other sectors.
Despite this, Healey argues that bolstering shipyards and associated industries will enhance national security and resilience in the industries driving future growth.
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