More UK jobs expected as Defence Committee holds first session

According to Unite, the Government must prioritise procurement that benefits UK jobs and industry out of the £2.9bn extra defence spending allocated in the Budget.

The call came as the Parliamentary Defence Committee held its first evidence session of the new Parliament.

The committee considered the impact of the Budget on defence spending.

Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Government defence spending must be used to secure UK jobs and skills. 

“This country has world class aerospace and shipbuilding capabilities.

“Buying British is crucial if we are going to retain them, for the sake of our national security as well as our future economic growth.”

Unite workplace representatives from BAE Systems, Leonardo and Rolls-Royce recently attended Parliament to lobby MPs on spending defence funding.

Steve McGuinness, secretary at BAE Systems Warton and executive council member at Unite, said: “Under the previous Government, too many UK workers lost out on defence procurement work due to it being awarded to foreign competitors.