BARROW'S shipyard workers would have the 'full support' of a Labour government, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said. 

In a speech in Greater Manchester, Sir Keir announced a commitment to a 'nuclear deterrent triple lock', including building four submarines in Barrow.

He claimed Labour was the 'party of defence', in comments criticised by the Conservative candidate for Barrow and Furness. 

Speaking about his recent visit to Barrow's shipyard, Sir Keir said: "I met workers who are proud to be doing their bit for national security.

"They deserve our full support and they will get it."

But Labour has been criticised by Simon Fell, who is standing for the Conservatives at the General Election, who claimed the defence triple lock pledge was 'artful nonsense' and pointed out that some members of the shadow cabinet voted against renewing the Trident nuclear deterrent under previous leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Fell said: "What about the wider submarine programme? What about SSN-AUKUS?

"Why promise a review that will only delay investment and set the programme back?

"And most importantly, why did they twice campaign flat out to put Jeremy Corbyn in power, who wanted to scrap Trident, and pull us out of NATO?

"Why did so many of their front bench vote against Trident? What has changed?

"These same people were willing to risk our national security twice in pursuit of power.

"Their heart is not in it, and we cannot afford the risk that Labour present."

Sir Keir insisted his whole shadow cabinet is behind him on nuclear weapons when challenged over previous opposition from some of his front bench, including his deputy Angela Rayner and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy.

He criticised the Tories for questioning Labour’s commitment to national security, saying he did not believe it should be a 'party political issue'.

“With my changed Labour Party, national security will always come first,” Sir Keir said.

Mr Fell hit back on X, saying: "If Sir Keir was prepared to destroy Barrow by backing his ‘friend’ Jeremy Corbyn last time, how can you trust him on Barrow and Trident now?"

The candidates for Barrow and Furness so far declared ahead of the general election on July 4 are Simon Fell for the Conservatives, Barry Morgan for Reform, Michelle Scrogham for Labour, Adrian Waite for the Liberal Democrats and Lorraine Wrennall for the Green Party.