6 days ago
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New weapons factories volition beryllium built "very soon" to amusement Vladimir Putin the UK is "stepping up our deterrents", the defence caput has told Sky News.
Last night, the authorities announced at slightest six caller arms plants arsenic portion of a £6bn propulsion to rearm astatine a clip of increasing threats.
Politics latest: Healey questioned by Trevor Phillips
No details connected timings oregon wherever the factories would beryllium were provided up of the strategical defence review, which the £6bn concern volition beryllium portion of, being published connected Monday.
But Defence Secretary John Healey told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "We should expect to spot caller factories opening precise soon.
"And we've already got beardown munitions factories successful each portion of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"The concern we're making volition boost the jobs successful those areas arsenic well."
Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin should beryllium "frightened now" oregon successful the future, Mr Healey said: "The connection to Putin is we instrumentality our defence seriously, we're stepping up our deterrents."
Mr Healey besides said helium has "no doubt" defence spending volition deed 3% of GDP successful the adjacent parliament.
He defended not trying to get to that successful this parliament - by 2029 - and said: "It's however overmuch [is spent connected defence], but besides however you walk it."
The defence caput said his authorities is showing a consciousness of urgency by investing £1bn into cyber warfare capabilities, £1.5bn to amended forces' lodging implicit the adjacent 5 years and a £6bn committedness to "rearm" implicit the adjacent 5 years.
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Senior Conservative Robert Jenrick told Trevor Phillips helium welcomed "any other concern successful defence" and the information Labour had reaffirmed the UK's committedness to spending 2.5% of GDP connected defence.
However, helium said: "We privation to spot the UK scope 3% wrong this parliament, we deliberation that 2034 is simply a agelong clip to wait, fixed the gravity of the situation."
He called Mr Healey "a bully man" who is "doing what needs to beryllium done successful the nationalist interest".
But helium added: "I americium sceptical arsenic to whether Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is going to marque bully connected these promises.
"Since the wide election, each I tin spot are breached promises from Rachel Reeves."
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