Asked if the proportion would begin to increase in the first term of a Labour government, he said: “On the 2.5, we want to do that as soon as possible…The last time of course, we were on 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence was under the last Labour government back in 2010. In the intervening 14 years, this government has never hit the target of 2.5 per cent.
“So that was the last time. We want to hit that target as soon as possible within our fiscal rules. But the first thing we need to do is the strategic review of defence to assess the threats that we face, to deal with the capabilities and to ensure that we have the resources that we need. Now, that will take place straightaway.”
Sir Keir was setting out his commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent during a visit to the Fusilier Museum in Bury, Greater Manchester, Sir Keir insisted his whole shadow cabinet was behind him, despite both Ms Rayner and David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, voting not to renew Trident under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Asked if he had spoken to his shadow ministers about their views, and could confirm they had changed, he said: “I lead this party. I’ve changed this party.
“If we’re privileged to come in to serve, I will be the prime minister of the United Kingdom. And I’ve made my commitment to this absolutely clear. And I’ve got my whole shadow cabinet behind me.
“We have changed the Labour Party. I know full well that national security, defence of our country, is the number one issue. That is why I voted to renew the deterrent. And that’s why I’ve been absolutely clear on this. I lead from the front, I’ve always led from the front.”
‘A risk to Britain’s defences’
Critics said Ms Rayner’s comments showed that Labour couldn’t be trusted on defence and that Sir Keir’s claims that the party had changed were a “con”.
Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said: “The Labour Party is a risk to Britain’s defences.
“Angela Rayner’s comments this evening casting doubt on the future of our nuclear deterrent show that the claims made today by Keir Starmer about the ‘changed’ Labour Party are a con.
“If something happens to Keir Starmer then Angela Rayner would become responsible for Britain’s defences and she won’t use them. In an increasingly dangerous world, Labour cannot be trusted to keep us safe from Putin.”
Asked if she had changed her mind on the UK having nuclear weapons, Ms Rayner said: “Well, our announcement today is a firm commitment for the triple lock for the nuclear deterrent.
“First of all, that we will commit to the nuclear deterrent. Second, that we will make sure that those four submarines are built in Barrow, and thirdly that we will commit to all of the necessary upgrades going forward.
“I haven’t changed my mind. The vote that we had some years ago mentioned nothing about multilateral disarmament, and that’s what I feel is really important for the long term; that globally we should be looking at disarmament of nuclear weapons, but that has to be done in combination with other countries.”
Unilateral disarmament would Britain getting of rid nuclear weapons independently, while multilateral would involve an agreement with other countries to disarm together.