The theatricality came from the fact that Andy Burnham went to Barrow to make an announcement which was inevitable and predictable. The programme could not be changed in any meaningful way short of cancellationThe essentials of Burnham’s announcement are as follows. ‘This milestone investment breathes new life into Barrow’s historic traditions and secures our commitment to deliver Dreadnought-class submarines by backing British industry.’ Today’s announcement is a great deal of money, but the government could hardly change its mind and abandon the Dreadnought-class submarines. Neither Burnham nor Starmer made any significant choices in the development of the Dreadnought-class submarines or the renewal of the nuclear deterrent.