Labour to change procurement rules to force Ministry of Defence to buy British equipment in bid to grow economy, Keir Starmer announced

Labor will change procurement rules to force the Ministry of Defense to prioritize the purchase of British equipment, the party has announced.

In an effort to grow the economy and ensure the armed forces have the equipment they need, sir Keir Starmer will set the bar high for any decision to buy abroad.

Defense investment will be primarily targeted at British businesses, and defense procurement will be used to strengthen British sovereignty, security and economic growth, Labor pledged.

Sir Keir told the Mail last night that he would ‘always do and spend whatever it takes to keep our country safe’ as he accused the Tories of being ‘too willing to buy abroad’.

He said the Conservatives have ‘shortchanged British businesses and British jobs’.

Keir Starmer today announced that Labor will change procurement rules to force the Ministry of Defense to prioritize the purchase of British equipment

Pictured: a British Army WAH-64D Apache AH1 attack helicopter

Grant Shapps leaves Downing Street after attending a weekly cabinet meeting on July 4, 2023

In the 2017 National Shipbuilding Strategy, the government said it had a ‘duty to ensure that public resources deliver the best value for the taxpayer’.

But since then, the Defense Department has bought new weapons from abroad and looked to the US for new missiles for Apache helicopters.

Labor has pledged to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defense as soon as possible, although the Tories have said they will reach this target by 2030.

Sir Keir told the Mail: ‘The transformed Labor Party I lead knows that the defense of our nation must always come first.

“We will always do and spend what is necessary to keep our country safe. We will secure Britain’s long-term future with our plans to build more armed forces in Britain.

‘The Conservatives have been too willing to buy abroad, shortchanging British businesses and British jobs.

‘They have failed to make the most of the UK defense industry as a way to grow our economy and ensure our armed forces have the equipment they need to fight and meet our NATO obligations comply.

“At a time of increasing threats, it is critical that we have the industry and jobs needed to ensure our armed forces have the tools they need to deter – and if necessary, defeat those who want to harm us.

British Army soldiers from the 12th Armored Brigade Combat Team sit on the Warrior infantry fighting vehicles during a NATO exercise in Poland

“Labor is committed to strengthening our national defense and supporting our armed forces. A strong national defense is the secure foundation on which Labour’s mission-driven government will be built. To provide this long-term certainty, Labor will raise the bar on decisions to buy abroad.

‘We will use defense procurement to strengthen our UK sovereignty, security and economic growth with a strong defense industrial strategy to ensure that investment in defense procurement delivers growth.’

The pledge comes after Labor promised a ‘triple lock’ on the nuclear deterrent to protect the Britain of the future.

Sir Keir pledged to build all four of Britain’s new Dreadnought nuclear submarines, maintain Britain’s nuclear deterrent at sea and deliver any future necessary upgrades.

He told the Mail in April: ‘Make no mistake, this is a commitment that will last for generations. This isn’t just about defending our country and our NATO allies, it’s also about defending our economy – prioritizing British jobs, British skills and much-needed economic growth here on our shores.”