Eighty years ago, Britain celebrated victory in Europe. The war was over, but the real achievement wasn’t just the military triumph — it was the extraordinary effort that got us there. The unity, the resolve, and the national determination to stand up to fascism and defend freedom and democracy.
I’ve thought about that a lot over the years — listening to my Grandad’s time with the Commandos during the Italian Campaign, as I watched Dad deploy for the first Gulf War, and as I later patrolled the Badlands of Afghanistan. The message of VE Day has stayed with me: victory is not just about those serving. It’s about the country behind them.
I come from a family that’s lived that belief. My father served, as did my brother. And like them, I chose a life in uniform, with the Royal Marines.
In Helmand, we faced attacks daily — from rockets, snipers and mortar fire, moments that still come back to me. But I remember just as clearly how our fight on the front line relied on so many others.
During my time in Afghanistan, we lost many good soldiers and marines, tragically. But we learned. Our tactics changed, the surgeons at Camp Bastion developed new procedures, and the same innovation was happening back home. Our engineers were designing mine resistant vehicles, better body armour and equipment to jam radio-controlled explosives.
This innovation saved lives, and in Ukraine the same process is happening right now. I was there last month, and Ukrainian engineers are developing amazing new drones at pace.
Their defence industry has gone into overdrive to engineer the kit that will help save them from the Russian aggressor. And it’s not just weapons that matter — British expertise, aid, and diplomacy are all part of how we help Ukraine stand firm. Our soft power still counts, and it’s one of the reasons Britain is respected around the world.
We live in increasingly dangerous times. War is raging on our continent. It threatens us at home. And the global balance of power is shifting, fast. That’s why I support Labour’s pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. Not because it sounds tough — but because it’s necessary.
But if we’re serious about security, we must go further than just raising the budget. We must ensure that spending builds strength at home.
Back in 1945, it was British industry — in shipyards, foundries and engineering firms — that turned the war effort around. HMS Catterick, the ship that my Grandad served on before landing at Salerno, was built in Barrow Shipyard.
Industrial heartlands like the Black Country made armoured cars, weapons and ammunition. These places didn’t just support the war. They made victory possible.
We can do that again — if we choose to.
Today, the Black Country still has the talent, the tools and the tradition. Somers Forge in Halesowen produces vital equipment for the Royal Navy. BB Price in Cradley Heath has been forging parts for ships, tanks and aircraft for generations.
These are not relics of the past — they are the backbone of a future defence industry. And they should be front and centre of any national security strategy.
If we’re serious about being ready for the threats of tomorrow, we need to make sure British troops aren’t relying on foreign supply chains or outdated equipment. We need to make sure British workers are the ones building what keeps us safe.
That means aligning defence procurement with British industry. It means linking national security with job creation and training in towns like Halesowen. And it means recognising that rebuilding our industrial base isn’t nostalgia — it’s a necessity.
Because deterrence starts long before the first shot is fired. As we are seeing in Ukraine, a strong — and capable — military is needed to deter our enemies.
This VE Day, we honour those who served and sacrificed. But we also have a duty to ask what kind of country we are building now. Are we ready for the challenges ahead? Are we investing in the skills, industries and infrastructure that kept us free 80 years ago?
We owe it to that generation — and to the next — to be bold. To rebuild our strength at home so we can face threats abroad. And to remember that Britain’s security has always rested not just on the courage of its troops, but on the quiet determination of the people and places that backed them.
That spirit of 1945 — unity, purpose, resilience — isn’t a memory. It’s a blueprint.
And it’s time we followed it again.
Alex Ballinger is the Labour MP for Halesowen