Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during a visit to BAE Systems Submarines in Barrow-in-Furness alongside Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, has declared a “renaissance in the nuclear industry” within the UK. This visit marks a significant announcement about the future of the country’s nuclear sector, including a partnership with corporations such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce. The government plans to invest approximately £763 million into skills, jobs, and education, enhancing both the defence and civil nuclear industries.

Furthermore, an additional investment of £20 million has been pledged to foster growth in Barrow-in-Furness, significant for its role in the UK’s nuclear submarine programme. Andrew Bowie, the minister of the nuclear sector, conceded that plans for the nuclear industry’s future should have been made “years ago”, acknowledging the initiation of recent strategies such as the civil nuclear roadmap and the focus on new nuclear power and small modular reactors.

The government’s commitment aims to create thousands of job opportunities by the end of the decade. Labour’s shadow defence secretary endorsed the initiative for securing jobs and guarding national interests, although the spending, particularly a £200 million fund for nuclear plans, faced criticism from SNP defence spokesperson Martin Docherty-Hughes for prioritising nuclear investment over other vital issues.

Prime Minister Sunak highlighted the Conservative government’s support for nuclear power since 2010, contrasting it with previous Labour positions, and underscored the importance of the nuclear sector for national security and affordable energy. This announcement comes amid debates on defence spending and strategic priorities, including the transition towards modernising the UK’s nuclear deterrent as outlined in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper.