John Healey is set to outline a vision for a “new age of industrialisation” during his inaugural Labour conference address on Monday. The chancellor will urge delegates to embrace a modernised industrial past centred on advanced manufacturing, explicitly stating that while the coal industry will not return, Britain can be reimagined for the contemporary era.
Central to this strategy are significant investments in the UK’s shipbuilding sector. Healey will confirm that three new floating docks will be constructed at HM Royal Naval Base Clyde in Faslane, marking a decisive move away from international tenders. These facilities, part of a broader £15bn Royal Navy yard upgrade programme, are scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s and will support the next generation of British submarines.
Additionally, the government plans to commission a new maritime research vessel, with Healey expected to announce an £115m funding package sourced from existing budgets. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the dock construction as a means to generate employment and opportunity, emphasising that defence investment remains a priority despite the fiscal pressures facing the government.
The announcement comes as Labour faces mounting pressure to manage rising government borrowing ahead of its first budget in October. While Healey is not anticipated to reveal specific budgetary details in Liverpool, shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith criticised the plans as vague announcements lacking clarity on funding sources. Griffith argued that the government is avoiding difficult fiscal choices and suggested that only the Conservatives would address defence funding through welfare cuts.
Trade union leaders, however, have welcomed the initiative. Charlotte Brumpton-Childs of the GMB union called the policy a substantial boost for British shipyards, noting that high-value contracts have too often been awarded to subsidised overseas yards.
Beyond heavy industry, Healey will also announce the revival of the Union Learning Fund, allocating £15m to help workers in England adapt to technological changes, including artificial intelligence. The scheme will offer training in essential skills and sectors such as advanced manufacturing, available to all employees regardless of union membership. This comes amid growing calls from unions like Unite for the chancellor to take further action on the cost of living and energy bills in the upcoming budget.
Vague promises are easy, but where is the actual money coming from? Fiscal reality needs addressing.
Finally bringing shipbuilding jobs back home. About time we stopped subsidizing overseas yards.