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The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)
It is an honour to speak under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Cameron Thomas) for initiating today’s debate, and to all Members and gallant Members for their contributions—particularly those with service history, but also great knowledge of the battle of Britain.
On 2 September 1940, 85 years ago today, the Luftwaffe launched a series of massive attacks on RAF airfields and multiple other strategic industrial targets across our great country. Just one of those waves consisted of 250 German aircraft, which is almost incomprehensible today. They darkened the sky as they crossed the English channel in a fearsome display of force and intent. Yet, even with all that firepower and industrial might, it turned out to be another costly day for the Luftwaffe. Harassed, harried and hounded by the RAF, the Germans’ air force was failing to meet its objectives.
At a briefing about the lack of progress, Reichsmarschall Göring criticised his airmen for the mounting losses. When he asked one of his leading flying aces, Adolf Galland, what he needed to turn the battle in Germany’s favour, Galland famously responded,
“I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron”—
a reply that left Göring speechless with rage. He stormed off in disgust.
The excellence of the British aircraft was surpassed by the extraordinary courage of the heroes, such as the father of the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith), who flew them. Today, we come together once again to say thank you to the generation who gave so much.
It is difficult to imagine the mood, but also the courage and fortitude, of the British people as they contemplated Hitler’s next move during the summer of 1940. It is easy for us now, with hindsight, to look back with certainty, but for those sat here in Britain in 1940, invasion was imminent. They had watched our European allies fall to Nazi Germany one by one. They knew that a momentous battle was approaching—a battle for the future of not just Britain, but freedom and democracy. They knew that we might be defeated—certainty was not guaranteed.
The battle proved to be an immense test of national character and many made the ultimate sacrifice, with 23,000 civilians losing their lives and more than 1,500 RAF air crew personnel dying trying to protect them. Pilots often flew multiple sorties day after day, week after week, scrambling to their planes every time the next wave of bombers was detected, fighting on after sustaining damage and injuries high over the fields of south-east England, locked in high-stakes combat against a deadly foe. The battle was not only a contest for the control of our skies; it was a test of will that would determine the fate of our entire nation. At a time of supreme Nazi confidence, the battle of Britain demonstrated to ourselves, and was a signal to the rest of the world, that Hitler could be defeated.
What lessons can we learn from that for today? First, in an increasingly fragile world, we must continue to defend and to stand up for what we believe in and who we are against the rise of autocracy. We must be able to stand up, no matter how dangerous and no matter the threat of physical or economic consequences.
The second lesson is about the importance of alliances and friendships. United we are stronger. As one great general once said:
“The only thing worse than working with allies is working without them.”
We honour the crucial role played by the US, the French nationals, the Poles, the Czechs, the South Africans, individuals from New Zealand and many others on the ground and in the air during the battle of Britain. More than 15 nations, and some more, came together, united by a shared purpose and shared beliefs.
The third lesson is in the importance of consistent innovation. In 1940, the world’s first integrated radar-based air defence system gave the RAF a critical advantage. Just a few weeks ago, an audacious Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bomber airfields reminded us of how new and evolving technology is vital to success in modern warfare. We are continually innovating to keep our skies secure. We are investing heavily in uncrewed systems, but we must do more in satellite technology, as space becomes a key defence domain in the future and in our global combat air programme, alongside our allies and partners.
The fourth lesson we can learn for today is the importance of our defence industry. Behind the “few” who Churchill spoke about—the heroes who manned the aircraft and took on the might of the German air force—were the many. As the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois) mentioned, it was the many who supported, armed and sustained our fighters throughout the battle.
Finally, in 1940, when we fought the battle of Britain, the whir and the echo of air raid sirens reverberated around every city in the UK. That is going on right now in one place not so far from here—the sirens echo every day in Ukraine, which is under sustained and relentless attack by an aggressor.
Churchill fully grasped that this was a war of production, and said:
“The front line runs through the factories. The workmen are soldiers with different weapons but the same courage.”—[Official Report, 20 August 1940; Vol. 364, c. 1160.]
I have always said that, while armies, navies and air forces may respond to crisis and fight wars, it is industry, economies and societies that win them.
Britain prevailed because our supply chains turbocharged our fighting power. Our victory was built in significant measure on manufacturing excellence and organisational strength, and our modern defence industry remains just as integral a part of our national security. That is why the Government are rolling out our new defence industrial strategy by making defence an engine for growth. We create a robust pipeline for the equipment and munitions that keep Britain safe, and we create secure, skilled jobs up and down this wonderful country, with the workforce continuing to play a vital role in the protection of our nation.
A variety of issues were raised by hon. Members from both sides of the House. One that resonated was the requirement to remember. I would argue that remembering is not just for individuals of our age in this wonderful place, but is about education, communication and remembering across every section of society at all ages, because those who do not read history are unfortunately doomed to repeat it.
I thank the hon. Member for Tewkesbury for highlighting preparedness. The reality is that the first 70 to 80 pages of the strategic defence review are all about industry. Finding the fighting power and the humans to fight is quite easy during conflict; it is very difficult to build the industrial base to sustain the ability to wage a defence of a nation.
The tributes that the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) paid to his father were truly unbelievable. I cannot comprehend the bravery of his father—day in, day out, he jumped into an aircraft and flew into the unknown. I am truly jealous of the right hon. Gentleman’s ability to sit in the flank and listen to some of those stories, probably as his father sipped a whisky and regaled him about his time defending this great country. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned courage and fear; I always say that courage is a decision and fear is a reaction. The courage to volunteer and then fly into the unknown every day is utterly commendable.
My hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Lizzi Collinge) made a really valid point, highlighting the fact that anyone can be a patriot, but we must not allow anyone to hijack that narrative to the point where people feel nervous about championing their patriotism. We are all proud to be British, first and foremost, and I argue that our duty here is to serve our country as a No. 1 priority.
The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) highlighted the manipulation of the narrative, or indeed the past. I am absolutely galled that we see protesters defacing and damaging military aircraft, and pressing industry and universities not to get involved in the defence industry. The naivety is utterly remarkable, for the very freedoms, permissions and laws that allow those individuals to protest in the first place are defended by the individuals and equipment they attack. The naivety rings through and potentially will be called out only when we are called to respond to an existential crisis.
The battle of Britain was a defining conflict of world war two. We collectively remain in awe at the courage, conviction and stalwart self-belief of the men and women of this great isle who faced down Nazi Germany. But we still live in a time that demands courage, resilience and sacrifice. Today, our armed forces are actively engaged in keeping Britain safe in a more volatile and more dangerous world than I have seen in 24 years of service. We are profoundly grateful for everything they do, and, indeed, for everything that everybody in this House does to remind both the population and the international community of the threats that they may face.
This anniversary reminds us that we cannot grow complacent about peace. Our military serves as our insurance policy against threats to our security and our way of life. The battle of Britain generation continues to inspire us to be strong in the face of overwhelming odds and adversity, to stand up for the values that we believe in at any cost, and to proudly defend our great nation and our western way of life. That is the best way to honour the heroes of 1940. As a fellow veteran, I particularly thank the hon. Member for Tewkesbury for helping us by bringing this great debate to the House today.