The first duty of any government is to protect its citizens and keep the country safe. Labour recognises that peace and security are hard earned and require constant vigilance.   

Since Labour last left office, global tensions have risen significantly. Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has challenged European security, with a direct impact on the security and cost of our energy supply. Threats to our safety and security have diversified greatly, including cyber-attacks and misinformation that seek to subvert our democracy.   

The Conservatives response left us weaker. They spent fourteen years damaging our international reputation, treating our closest friends as foes, and abandoning our values by undermining international law. By their own admission, they hollowed out our Armed Forces.   
As the new party of government, Labour has put national security at the heart of its agenda. No policy commitment matters unless we uphold our duty to keep the country safe.  

This is one of the foundations underpinning Labour’s Plan for Change.