5. Championing Defence

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Rebecca is proud to represent many serving personnel, veterans and 42 Commando Royal Marines at RM Bickleigh as the Member of Parliament for South West Devon and is an outspoken champion for Britain's Armed Forces in Parliament.

Born and raised in the historic naval city of Plymouth, she has fond memories of watching warships set sail from Plymouth Sound as a girl. Before being elected in July 2024, Rebecca spent more than six years working for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in the South West, sharing its vital work preserving the memories of the fallen through walks and talks. She continues to support and raise awareness about the organisation in Parliament, chairing the CWGC and Commemorations All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). The South West Devon MP also attends Remembrance services in towns and villages across the constituency every year, laying wreaths on behalf of her constituents.

Rebecca was the only Plymouth MP to speak out against the Government's decision to axe HMS Albion and Bulwark based at HMNB Devonport in November 2024. She has put significant pressure on the Government to provide a timeline for their replacements, quizzing the Defence Secretary in Parliament.

View recent articles on Rebecca's work to champion defence in South West Devon below.

News

Rebecca slams Labour's unfunded Defence Review

Today Labour announced their Strategic Defence Review with no plan of how to fund it.The review's diagnosis is correct. We live in more dangerous times and must move to war-fighting readiness.

Briefing on board HMS Sutherland!

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit HMS Sutherland and met many personnel on board, including a handful of South West Devon constituents.

Rebecca congratulates Ivybridge RBL team on 300-mile fundraising walk

Huge congratulations to Dermot, Dave and Leighton from Royal British Legion: Ivybridge branch for completing their 300 mile walk!Raising money for the RBL Poppy Appeal, they’ve walked the Two Moors Way, the Tamara Way and the The South West Coast Path from Falmouth to Ivybridge. It means the br

Rebecca joins local community to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day

It was a privilege to join members of the Plympton Branch The Royal British Legion, local Cadets and members of the Plympton community, including the Stannator and Youth Ambassador, at the VE Day beacon lighting ceremony at the Union Inn last night. As someone who has the privilege of working w

Rebecca discusses defence at Devonport Dockyard

I recently toured Devonport Dockyard with Babcock International Group, viewing the Supercat ‘Jackal’ production line, the upgrade of the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine support facilities at 10 Dock and heard about plans to house the eight new Type 26 Frigates.I have spoken a great deal recently abou

Discussing the future of defence at the largest naval base in Western Europe

Discussing the future of defence at the largest naval base in Western Europe.I recently toured Devonport Dockyard with Babcock, viewing the Supercat ‘Jackal’ production line, the upgrade of the @Royal Navy's nuclear submarine support facilities at 10 Dock and heard about plans to house the eight new

Royal Navy receives world’s first autonomous mine hunter in Plymouth

It was great to be at Thales at Turnchapel Wharf recently for the delivery of the world’s first autonomous mine hunting system for the Royal Navy.This cutting-edge system uses autonomous drones equipped with AI to conduct mine countermeasure missions which secure Britain's free navigation of the ope

Statement on Labour's sale of Plymouth warships to Brazil

In January I asked the Labour Defence Secretary when the replacements for Plymouth's HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion would enter service. No answer. The following month I asked if Plymouth's warships were being flogged to a foreign navy.