The Spectator

Full text: Michael Fallon’s Tory party conference speech

This week our party is putting forward a vision of a country that works for everyone. Where you can go as far as your talents take you. Ultimately the opportunity to get on depends on the security provided by our Armed Forces.

Today British forces are fighting terrorism, countering aggression, and training troops in democracies as far apart as Iraq and Ukraine, Nigeria and Afghanistan. Here at home, they are patrolling our skies and seas. Serving around the world, around the clock – to keep our country safe. Each one of them deserves our thanks. In Theresa May we have a leader who puts security first. Her first act as Prime Minister was to win an overwhelming majority in Parliament to build the new nuclear submarines that will deter the most extreme threats through to the 2060s. That sent a powerful message about Britain’s commitment to defend our way of life, and that of our allies.

Tomorrow I will be cutting steel on the first new Successor Trident submarine. A billion pound investment that will benefit businesses from Barrow to Berkshire, from the North of Scotland to Tyneside. Contrast that with the Labour Party. While we are getting on with the Successor programme, they can’t even agree on a successor to Jeremy Corbyn. Instead, they’ve just re-elected a Leader who wants to scrap our nuclear weapons, leave NATO, and talk to terrorists. Let me tell you waving a white flag won’t keep us safe. Labour would risk our defence for dogma – that’s why they cannot be trusted with Britain’s security.

Today we face Daesh terrorism, a resurgent Russia, cyber attacks, North Korea illegally testing nuclear weapons. Unlike Labour, we have the will to respond to these threats. We’re investing in more ships, more planes, a 50,000 strong division, better equipment, and stronger cyber defence.

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