John Healey is discussing his priorities for the future of Britain’s armed forces at the Institute of Government.
Wrapping up his speech at the Institute for Government, defence secretary John Healey has said “This is a government whose commitment to defence is unshakable.”.
Announcing what he described as “the biggest shake up of UK defence for over 50 years”, Healey said:.
Let me say this. This is a government whose commitment to defence is unshakable. It’s the foundation for our plan for change, for the delivery of our government’s missions. We will match sustained investment with serious reform. It will mean growing the economy. It will mean a more muscular defence for a more dangerous world. It will mean a Britain which is secure at home and strong abroad.
I and Keir Starmer had recognised the requirement for defence reform early. We came into government with a plan.
What I’ve been struck by is how responsive defence is to direction and decision, how wide the appetite for change within defence is, and that’s at every level.
There aren’t any bonus points in politics for administrative and managerial reform. But I want the results. I want defence to be stronger. I want us to be more influential.
And I want the people who are dedicated, that I talked about in their different ways, right across defence, in and out of uniform, dedicated, defending our country, and keeping people safe. I want them to be able to do the job that they’ve joined to do.
