Worked at House of Commons on foreign affairs and eastern European policy. Almost retired
Joined June 2015
- Tweets14.5K
- Following383
- Followers5K
- Likes34.4K
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham has announced an £8.4bn investment in the UK’s nuclear submarine programme
£5.9bn will go to BAE Systems and the rest to the supply chain to prepare HMS Dreadnought for service in the 2030s
He says it will create 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
This is not a new announcement. The £8.4 billion is “part of the already agreed Dreadnought programme”.
There is no new money here and no new jobs. This is a re-announcement.
“Already agreed”theguardian.com/politics/2026/…
Page 29 lists existing spending far higher than 8.4 billion for the programme.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a44e989…
An earlier post on Wes Streeting positions on key defence issues @ModernNavy
What a Prime Minister Wes Streeting looks like on defence:
-Supports defence spending increase
-Reduce welfare but NHS off limits
-Supports replacing Trident
-Opposed UK military overseas
-Spent a week with @RoyalMarines
-"unashamed champagne socialist"
lbc.co.uk/article/streeting-…
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
🚨A reminder of what our new chancellor @JohnHealey_MP wrote when he quit as defence secretary a few weeks ago: “I am certain that a headmark date for 3% of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set”
Good start @ModernNavy
independent.co.uk/news/uk/po…
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
'This is a bold bet on technological solutions with no margin for error if procurement is not speedy and implementation rapid.'
Read for more thoughts and comments by Matthew Savill (@MTSavill), Director of Military Sciences on the newly published Defence Investment Plan. rusi.org/in-the-news/matthew…
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
'Insufficient' Defence Investment Plan slammed for lack of help for Royal Navy fleet that's 'falling apart' trib.al/kfdVuOM
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
John Healey, the UK defence secretary who resigned over a failure by Keir Starmer to spend significantly more on defence, repeats his call for a clear target date to boost the defence budget to 3% of GDP from around 2.3% now. He wants it to be by 2030, unlocking tens of billions more pounds for defence
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
if you ignore the Treasury tricks (including other people’s budgets being counted) and focus instead on the actual defence budget planned for the MoD you get the following breakdown as GDP:
FY 26/27 £68.3bn 2.12% GDP
FY 27/28 £73.8bn. 2.21% GDP
FY 28/29 £76.5bn.2.22% GDP
@afneil @bbcnickrobinson @haynesdeborah @larisamlbrown @FrankRGardner @jeromestarkey
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
The DIP says the Type 45 destroyers will retire in 2035.
The CCV / Type 9x LUSV / Future Air Dominance construct will have to be proven and operational in less than 10 years.
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
DIP confirms the plan to buy 12 F-35A jets for tactical nuclear weapons delivery (instead of F-35Bs) ploughs ahead.
Adds cost, adds complications of split fleet ownership, fewer jets available for deployment on carriers and replicates tactical nuclear weapon delivery capability
(of questionable value) already in place across NATO.
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
The threats we face are growing rapidly. Many are found at or from the sea.
That’s why the DIP is an important moment for the @RoyalNavy.
It reinforces the nuclear deterrent and begins funding Atlantic Bastion, the Hybrid Navy, and the capabilities we need to fight and win.
Too little, too late from one too long in office - Starmer's low ball defence investment
independent.co.uk/news/uk/po…
Legacy or lunacy?
Starmer to unveil long-delayed defence investment plan tomorrow news.sky.com/story/politics-…
Bargain basement budget navy - more modest than modern @ModernNavy
#RoyalNavy
news.sky.com/story/uk-to-rep…
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
As our epic journey continues, thank you to our affiliates for visiting last week. It was great to show you around our home!
#DaringisClass
@GvHouseGuernsey
@LeicsCountyHall @LeicsLieutenant
@ThePewterers
@ArmdCavRDG @RAFConingsby
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
BREAKING: Sir Keir Starmer has announced a timetable for his resignation as prime minister.
Live updates: trib.al/onupj8Y
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
What an incredible visit to Jakarta 🇬🇧🇮🇩
We sailed with the Indonesian Navy ⚓️
Hosted important guests 🫡
Joined celebrations for Jakarta’s 499th Birthday 🎂
We even played some football against the Marines ⚽️
Watch this excellent reel 🎞️
& stay tuned for so much more!
Welcoming HMS Tamar to Jakarta! 🇬🇧🤝🇮🇩
From hosting children from coastal communities of @tamananakpesisir onboard, sharing local flavours to mark Jakarta's 499th anniversary to a friendly football match with the Indonesian Navy, the visit celebrated friendship, teamwork and people-to-people connections between the UK and Indonesia.
Diplomasi, Kolaborasi, Prestasi
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
DIP rumour latest:
@DanJarvisMBE says he's "working around the clock" to make sure that we can get it completed.
@LukePollard promised this week that work to finalise the DIP is continuing "at pace".
Modern Royal Navy retweeted
Rich Knighton, CDS freely saying to a House of Lord Committee that the DIP settlement that @JohnHealey_MP resigned over does not provide enough RDEL budget (day-to-day running expenses) for defence - operations and training will have to be cut.
If this is imposed, a resignation matter for Knighton and @DanJarvisMBE ?
