Luke Pollard MP Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
“As Devonport’s MP I have consistently argued for greater defence spending and I welcome the extra money today. I am hopeful that this will end ten years of Tory defence cuts to Devonport. In the past decade the Conservatives have cut our frigates, cut the number of Royal Marines and sold off Devonport’s HMS Ocean without a replacement.
“Devonport is a central part of our national security. People who work there in uniform, and in civilian roles supporting the fleet, deserve a proper plan and clear funding. We now need to see a commitment to buy a full complement of eight Type 26 frigates, funding for the recycling the 13 old nuclear submarines tied up in Devonport and a funded plan for a new Royal Marines base in Plymouth after the government closes Stonehouse Barracks in 2028.
“But while today is big on spin, it is small on the detail and that makes me worry there is a sting in the tail of today’s big spending announcement. With the Integrated Review still many months away we know there’s more money, but we don’t know what capabilities may be cut to pay for increased investment elsewhere.”