John Healey will deliver his first Labour conference speech as chancellor, promising a "new age of industrialisation" for the UK without reviving coal mining but instead supporting advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding. He plans to announce new orders for Royal Navy floating docks at HM Royal Naval Base Clyde and a maritime research vessel, funded with £115 million. The projects aim to bolster national security and economic growth while facing criticism over funding details and economic feasibility.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Monday at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, John Healey, newly appointed Chancellor, pledged a "new age of industrialisation" for Britain. He emphasized his vision by referencing Britain's past industries and highlighted support for advanced manufacturing parks and shipbuilding. Specifically, he announced plans to invest £300 million in factories across Derby, Bristol, Glasgow, and Rotherham, with an additional £100 million fund for local mayors to boost apprenticeships. He also confirmed backing for British shipbuilding projects, including a new £100 million investment.
Despite his optimistic outlook, concerns were raised about the state of public finances amid surging inflation and economic pressures. Critics argued that his speech lacked specifics on how these ambitious plans would be funded without causing tax hikes or further straining Britain's debt burden. Healey faced mounting pressure to provide a clear fiscal strategy ahead of his first Budget in November. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce confirmed significant investments across various British locations, reflecting optimism in the industrial sector under Labour’s policies. However, some observers noted that these promises might not be sufficient without substantial economic reforms and addressing issues like lower immigration forecasts impacting Treasury revenue estimates. Critics also highlighted the need for detailed plans to reassure financial markets about fiscal responsibility.
Written for “UK Industrialization Plan” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 11 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
John Healey will promise "a new age of industrialisation" for the UK, when he delivers his first Labour conference speech as chancellor on Monday.
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he → publish → Monday
Healey will tell delegates "our coal mines are not coming back", but that Labour will remake Britain's industrial past "for the modern age" by backing advanced manufacturing.
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Labour → tell → manufacturing
He will also announce plans to boost Britain's shipbuilding industry, with new orders for Royal Navy floating docks and a maritime research vessel.
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He → announce → docks
With just a month to go until his first Budget, the chancellor is under pressure to cut spending or raise taxes to tackle the ballooning cost of government borrowing.
But he is not expected to reveal any details about his Budget plans in his speech at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool.
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he → go → Liverpool
Instead, he will attempt to set out a positive vision for the future of British industry, based around what he will call a "new confidence in Britain".
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he → attempt → Britain
The former defence secretary will announce that three new floating docks at HM Royal Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane, will be built in the UK, rather than put out to international tender.
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docks → announce → tender
Plans for the new docks were first set out in 2023 and are expected to upgrade Faslane's facilities for the next generation of British submarines.
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Plans → set → submarines
The docks form part of a wider £15bn upgrade programme for the Royal Navy's shipyards and are expected to come into service in the early 2030s.
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docks → form → 2030s
First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said in a speech on Sunday that the government would also commission a new marine research vessel as part of plans for a "new era of reindustrialisation".
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government → say → reindustrialisation
The chancellor is expected to announce £115m in funding for the ship, which is also set to come into service in the early 2030s.
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which → expect → 2030s
Ahead of his speech, Healey said: "By backing British shipyards, we are not only boosting national security but also securing resilience in the industries that will drive growth today while building the capabilities the country needs for the future."
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country → say → future
Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith said the plans were "reheated announcements" with "no clarity on where the money is coming from".
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money → say → where
He added: "Labour are running scared of making the tough choices needed to pay for Britain's defence.
"
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Labour → add → defence
All they can offer is reannounced docks and more hot air from Healey.
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they → offer → Healey
Only the Conservatives will cut the welfare bill to fund defence."
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Conservatives → cut → defence
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national secretary of the GMB union, which has campaigned for the move, said it would be a "massive boost" for the UK's shipbuilding sector.
"
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it → campaign → sector
For too long juicy contracts have been sent to overseas - often subsidised - yards.
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contracts → send → yards
"This policy could reinvigorate UK yards and the communities that depend on them," he added.
uncertain
he → reinvigorate → them
Prime Minister Andy Burnham - who is due to deliver his big conference speech on Tuesday - has previously spoken about his ambition to "reindustrialise" Britain, including in talks last week with US President Donald Trump.
But in a survey to be published on Monday, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) will highlight falling economic activity across key sectors such as retail and services in the three months to September, with manufacturing declining more moderately.
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manufacturing → deliver → September
CBI deputy chief economist Alpesh Paleja said rising energy and employment costs combined with weak demand were continuing to put pressure on profit margins.
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costs → say → margins
He added: "Uncertainty ahead of next month's Budget is also holding back activity in some sectors.
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Uncertainty → add → sectors
Against the backdrop of renewed fiscal pressures, the Budget must draw a clear red line under any more rises in the cost of hiring, investing and doing business.
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Budget → renew → business
The chancellor is also under pressure from some of Labour's trade union backers to do more to tackle the cost of living.
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chancellor → tackle → living
Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, has called on Healey to "do something for workers and the working class" in his Budget.
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Graham → call → Budget
She urged him to unfreeze income tax thresholds "to put money back into people's pockets" and take further action on energy bills.
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She → urge → bills
In his conference speech, Healey will also announce plans to bring back a training scheme run by trade unions, to help workers in England gain new skills and adapt as technology, including AI, changes the workplace.
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technology → announce → workplace
The Union Learning Fund will get £15m in taxpayers' money, taken from existing government budgets.
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Fund → get → budgets
Employees do not need to be union members to benefit, with support options ranging from essential English, maths and digital skills, to training for jobs in growing industries, such as advanced manufacturing.
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Employees → need → manufacturing
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