‘Dithering’ on defence spending puts thousands of jobs at risk, union warns

The government's “dither and delay” over military spending is putting Britain’s security and thousands of defence jobs at risk, union leaders have warned.

Unite, which represents workers at BAE Systems military planemaking plants in Lancashire, has issued a damning statement on delays to the publication of The Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

The plan was originally expected to be published alongside the Strategic Defence Review last summer but has been delayed several times.

Unite says it has now been advised the document may not appear until March or later, increasing uncertainty across the defence manufacturing sector. 

Labour’s biggest union donor says it has been in “numerous conversations” with the government “over many months” urging action, to no avail.

In a statement condemning the delays, Unite said: “This is starting to feel like Alice Through the Looking Glass, where it is always jam tomorrow.

“Allowing speculation about the government buying US made defence equipment instead of high-quality British kit is fuelling uncertainty.

“This is about jobs of course, but it is also a matter of national security. The latest set of threats from President Trump makes buying British and investing in British defence even more imperative.

“And we need these investments in British manufacturing now. The UK currently has the lowest investment rates in the G7.

“The government’s constant dithering is not only putting thousands of jobs at risk but also endangering the specialist skills that the UK needs to make fighter jets, military helicopters, drones and satellites in the future.”

Unite has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government to stop what it calls “these acts of self-harm” and to urgently publish the DIP.

It says the plan must include the replacement of old RAF fighter jets with new Typhoon jets, fitted with Rolls Royce engines, equipped with British-built weapons from MBDA and assembled at BAE’s sites in Lancashire.

The union, which represents tens of thousands of defence workers across the UK, also wants to see the awarding of a new medium lift helicopter contract to aerospace company Leonardo, to be manufactured at its plant in Yeovil, Somerset.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “The government's inertia on this issue is an act of self-harm. With employers planning in the dark and threatening job losses as a result, the government needs to stop the dither and delay.

“Failing to back British defence manufacturing would be a devastating own goal, destroying jobs and skills.

“When the announcement was made for higher defence spending, it came with guarantees around jobs, skills and innovation. We now need to move beyond the warm words and deliver.'

Meanwhile, senior Unite defence reps at aerospace giant Leonardo and other key defence sites, have written directly to the Prime Minister calling for him to act swiftly and decisively to ensure that jobs and skills are not lost.

Their letter says: “This issue must also be viewed in the wider context of UK defence aerospace manufacturing.

“As we set out previously, the recent Typhoon export order is a positive development but remains a short-term measure. Without further aircraft orders, including a domestic commitment, the United Kingdom risks the erosion of its fast-jet manufacturing capability.

“A UK Typhoon order would secure the future of Warton and Samlesbury, protect high-value jobs at Rolls-Royce and MBDA, and ensure that British-built aircraft are equipped with British-built weapons, safeguarding security of supply and national operational autonomy.”

There was some good news for the defence sector with the announcement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of a £205m investment in the RAF’s Typhoon current fighter fleet.

A contract awarded to British company QinetiQ will see specialist technical and engineering support delivered over five years to keep aircraft mission ready.

The deal will support 250 jobs at sites across the UK, including Warton in Lancashire.

The work includes engineering support to help the MoD deliver the new cutting-edge European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2, which will allow the aircraft to simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground. 

Luke Pollard, government minister for defence readiness and industry, said: “This contract ensures the aircraft will continue protecting British skies and supporting allies for years to come.”