皇冠体育app

It is a real privilege to be able to speak to you here today on VE Day.

80 years to the day鈥�

Since an expectant nation turned on the wireless 鈥� as of course it was then鈥�

To hear Churchill announce victory in our war against Nazi Germany. 聽

Just imagine it.

Beacons lit across the country鈥�

Bunting up鈥�

People raising their glasses and thanking the bravery of our armed forces鈥�

As we will do today.

And then they came to the streets.

皇冠体育app late Queen Elizabeth II 鈥� who was then a young princess of just 19 鈥�

Remembering going unnoticed in the crowds, swept up in a 鈥榯ide of happiness and relief鈥�.

A celebration of defiance鈥β�

Of sacrifice鈥�

皇冠体育app courage of that lion-hearted generation鈥�

皇冠体育app greatest victory in the history of this great nation.

A victory not just for Britain.

But for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil鈥�

For the light of our values 鈥� in a world that tried to put them out.

And, as you know鈥�

皇冠体育appre are people who would happily do likewise today.

Our values and security are confronted on a daily basis.

And we have to rise to this moment.

80 years ago, just round the corner from here, Churchill said鈥�

鈥淲e must begin the task of rebuilding鈥�

Do our utmost to make this country a land in which all have a chance鈥�

And in which all have a duty to our countrymen鈥�.

皇冠体育app post-war generation took on that task on with relish.

And we must use this moment鈥�

To do the same.

Deepening our partnerships with allies old and new 鈥�

From across Europe to meet the defence challenges of our age鈥�

To the United States鈥�

an indispensable ally for our economic and national security鈥�

As you know, talks with the US have been ongoing 鈥� and you鈥檒l hear more about that later today.

But make no mistake 鈥� I will always act in our national interest鈥�

For workers, businesses and families鈥�

To deliver security and renewal for our country.

Because the world has changed, decisively.

I mean, I remember 鈥� as some of you will also too鈥�

皇冠体育app day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

A landmark moment for my generation.

A sense of freedom, of possibility, of peace.

European countries finally free to choose their own future.

I didn鈥檛 think then that in my lifetime I would see Russian tanks entering a European country again.

Yet here we are.

And here we stand resolutely鈥�

With the people of Ukraine.

Together with our allies鈥�

Showing the strength of our values鈥�

As well as the value of our strength.

A few weeks ago, I was with the Prime Minister of New Zealand鈥�

To visit our forces delivering Operation INTERFLEX in Wiltshire.

This is a multinational military operation鈥�

That has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops for the frontline.

Men and women who are not soldiers by trade鈥�

Far from it.

皇冠体育appy are accountants, they are builders, businesspeople, you name it.

Who stepped up from their lives鈥�

Stepped away from their families鈥�

And, as veterans did eighty years ago鈥�

Answered the call to defend freedom and liberty in their homeland.

And as these brave men and women leave their training in Britain鈥�

And head to the frontline of freedom鈥�

皇冠体育appy are applauded by their British trainers. 聽

I鈥檝e seen this a couple of times now 鈥� it鈥檚 a really humbling sight.

A sign of our support and solidary in their struggle鈥�

Pride and admiration at their courage. 聽

Because in this country we know - this isn鈥檛 just a fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine.

No 鈥� it is a new, more dangerous era of history.

A period of global instability鈥�

That fuels insecurity for working people here at home.

皇冠体育app British people have already paid a price for Putin鈥檚 aggression in Ukraine, with rising bills and prices.

Russia already menaces our security鈥�

皇冠体育appy鈥檝e launched cyber-attacks on our NHS.

Spread disinformation online鈥�

And we cannot forget, just a few years ago 鈥� a chemical weapons attack on our streets in Salisbury.

In broad daylight, in the heart of England.

No - the battle lines in Ukraine are the front line for Western values.

And the argument that defines this age is simple鈥β�

National security is economic security.

And that is why we are boosting defence spending, with the largest sustained increase since the Cold War鈥�

An increase of 拢13.4bn year on year compared with where we are today.聽

Not just meeting our commitment to spend 2.5% of our GDP on defence鈥�

But bringing it forward to 2027.聽

And, alongside that, a new ambition for defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.

But look, I do want to be clear - this investment has two objectives.

Yes of course, the first goal is always the safety and security of the United Kingdom.聽

But the second is to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in every corner of our country.聽

Secure at home, strong abroad.

You know 鈥� at times like this there is a lot of talk about the end of the peace dividend.

Well, our task now is to seize the聽defence聽dividend.

Felt directly in the pockets of working people.

Rebuilding our industrial base.

Creating the jobs of the future.

皇冠体育app skills for the next generation鈥�

From the shipyards in Scotland鈥�

To the missile systems built in Stevenage and Belfast鈥�.

皇冠体育app artillery barrels made at Sheffield forgemasters鈥�

And the land vehicle development in Wales鈥�

Mark my words 鈥� the British defence industry will be the engine of national renewal.

Because this isn鈥檛 just about increasing our defence spending鈥�

It鈥檚 also about reform and rebuilding.

And in the coming weeks, we will publish a first-of-its kind, root and branch strategic defence review鈥�

It will scrutinise every aspect of defence - to determine how we can best meet the threats of today鈥�

And return Britain to warfighting readiness.

Alongside our National Security Strategy and our defence industrial strategy鈥�

We will set out a major overhaul of the British Armed Services鈥�

Starting by treating our Armed Forces with the respect that they deserve 鈥�

delivering the largest pay rise for over 20 years鈥�

And good homes for service personnel and their families.

But also - the biggest shift in mindset in my lifetime 鈥�

To see security and defence鈥�

Not as one priority amongst many others鈥�

But as the central organising principle of government 鈥�

皇冠体育app first thought in the morning 鈥� the last at night鈥�

皇冠体育app pillar on which everything else stands or falls. 聽

Because 鈥� as in 1945鈥�

This has to be a collective endeavour.

A national effort.

A time for the state, business and society to join hands鈥�

In pursuit of the security of the nation鈥�

And the prosperity of its people. 聽

So whether you鈥檙e a world-renowned business鈥�

Or a smaller, family-run firm鈥�

You have a vital part to play in boosting Britain鈥檚 defences.

That is why we have launched a new unit - to help SMEs get their foot in the door of the defence supply chain.聽

Because I am clear 鈥� the future belongs to the innovators.

Take the announcement made just last week鈥�

StormShroud drones鈥�

Flying as uncrewed guardians to RAF pilots and crew鈥�

Now, for the first time, made in Britain.

An investment that supports hundreds of highly skilled jobs鈥�

Boosting our capabilities for the modern age of drone-based warfare. 聽

Possible - only because of industry and military working together.

Or take the submarines that we鈥檙e building in Barrow.

This one is personal for me.

Not just because I was there in Barrow at the keel laying in March 鈥�

Not just because I met the workers and the apprentices and saw for myself what it means for them鈥�

And of course the 42,000 jobs it supports up and down the country鈥�

It鈥檚 also personal for me because just a few days before that visit鈥�

I went up to the Firth of Clyde, as another boat made in Barrow 鈥�

A Vanguard-class submarine鈥�

Was coming in off a record-breaking patrol.

We boarded the sub and met the crew 鈥� who had been at sea for months on end.

And meeting those remarkable men and women is something I鈥檒l never forget.

皇冠体育appre is no greater duty than the one that they carry 鈥�

No task more vital.

Our security鈥�

Nato鈥檚 security鈥�

Depends on them.

皇冠体育appy are the quiet custodians of the nation鈥檚 greatest capability鈥�

Part of an unbroken watch that has been maintained for 55 years.

And in this moment 鈥� it鈥檚 time for the rest of us to step up and rebuild our country鈥�

Leading the world in the opportunities of the future.

Recently, I visited the Carrier Strike Group off the coast of Cornwall鈥�

And stayed aboard HMS Prince of Wales鈥�

It was frankly humbling to see F35s taking off with just 100metres of deck to take off - and then returning and hovering to land on a sixpence

So imagine how I felt later the very same day when I went to see the apprentices at Rolls Royce鈥�Who had made the engines for those very F35s.

And we need to keep those apprentices busy鈥�

And mark my words 鈥� we are going to do that.

With the most ambitious programme of work to secure and rebuild our country since 1945.

Take an example: today, I can announce a 拢563 million contract to maintain Britain鈥檚 fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.

皇冠体育app backbone of Britain鈥檚 air defence鈥�

Proudly part of the flypast for VE Day that you may have seen on Monday.

All 130 Typhoons will have their engines maintained by Rolls-Royce鈥�

Supporting hundreds of jobs in Bristol and beyond鈥�

Defending British airspace.

Helping a new generation of service come of age.

And just imagine 鈥� what this means for a young apprentice, aged about 18.

Entering into the work force with a good job.

皇冠体育app pride of that work - as a proud I understand from my dad鈥�

Of knowing that what you do, what you make聽matters.

皇冠体育app pride of following in the footsteps of local families鈥�

Who have been the backbone of their communities for generations.

皇冠体育app grandchildren of the young men who fought on the beaches of Normandy鈥�

Now the submariners on a Vanguard-class submarine.

皇冠体育app descendants of the code breakers at Bletchley鈥�

Now learning the skills to build a new generation of nuclear submarines in Barrow.

And the pride of stepping into our national story鈥�

So those who follow us can say鈥�

We also rose to meet the moment.

We also stood firm against tyranny and oppression.

We also rebuilt Britain - so it serves everyone that serves our country.

Because on VE day 80 years ago鈥�

Politicians of all parties and stripes understood that a people who had sacrificed so much were owed a great debt.

And the truth is 鈥� people today are too.

After years of being buffeted about by insecurity and uncertainty鈥�

皇冠体育appy are owed the same security鈥�

the same prosperity and peace of mind鈥�

A good home to live in鈥�

A well-paid job with strong rights at work鈥�

An NHS that is there for them when they need it鈥�

all underpinned by the foundation of national security.

A defence dividend - that聽will聽be felt in the pockets of working people and the prosperity of the country.

An investment in peace鈥�

But also an investment in British pride and the British people鈥�

To build a nation that, once again, lives up to the promises made to that generation鈥�

Who fought for our values, our freedom and our security.

Thank you very much indeed.