Government Told To 'Step Up' Over Defence Procurement Projects

The Government has been told to "step up" amid fears that a defence review could see funds diverted from military hardware.

The Integrated Review, described as the biggest-of-its-kind since the end of the Cold War, was launched earlier this year. 

It comes as a report in the Mirror claims union leaders have outlined nine defence projects that must be prioritised to protect jobs, including six which are part of the existing equipment plan and have already been put on hold or pushed back.

Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, shadow defence minister for procurement, told Forces News: "The Government, particularly now, needs to step up."

He added: "Those projects have been designed. They’re needed. We currently have a carrier at sea which doesn’t have the fleet support along with it.

"We need to support them."

According to the report, the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions' (CSEU) "wish list", included ordering five more Type 26 City-class frigates for the Royal Navy now, rather than the early 2020s as planned.

This would cost £100 million, but would result in more than 1,000 jobs, it said. 

The CSEU also reportedly called on buying 36 Typhoons, rather than American-made F-35 Lightning II fighters to boost British jobs.

Other projects mentioned include the Army's Boxer armoured fighting vehicle and Warrior programme.

It claims the projects are worth £2.55bn in total and prioritising them would protect 33,000 jobs, as the UK looks to fight the recession caused by coronavirus.

"What we [the Labour Party] are looking for, essentially is perhaps what we started off with, is ensuring that all the defence contracts are carried out, are given out," Mr Mahmood said.

"This is both in conjunction with the employers and the unions - they are all happy to move with this.

"They can create and sustain jobs, particularly in manufacturing which are needed – and that is what we wanted before, but now it’s more relevant because the downturn will have a greater effect."

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Defence contributes over £20bn to the economy each year, supporting homegrown skills, opportunities and more than 300,000 jobs across the United Kingdom.

"We are well-placed to support the Government’s building agenda as we modernise the Armed Forces and ensure we have the latest capabilities to respond to rising threats."

Ian Waddell, general secretary of the CSEU, called for more reassurance.

"There are dozens of projects which have been budgeted for and are in the pipeline which can either be brought forward a couple of years or have additional orders," he told the Mirror.

"This will boost the economy now when it needs it."

He added: "The danger is that the economy goes into such a nosedive that future defence budgets get reallocated and existing orders dry up and more jobs are put at risk."

Cover image: Ministry of Defence building (Picture: PA).