Andrew Snowden, MP for Fylde, has today responded to the Government’s announcement of a future order of 12 F-35 fighter jets, warning that without a firm commitment to new Typhoon aircraft for the RAF, Britain risks losing not just thousands of high-skilled jobs at BAE Systems in Warton but also the sovereign capability to fully assemble our own military aircraft in the UK.
Speaking after raising the issue in Defence Questions in Parliament, Mr Snowden said:
“I welcome investment in our Armed Forces and any boost to British jobs that comes with it, but the reality is this F-35 order won’t see production start until 2035. That’s ten years away and far too late for the thousands of highly skilled engineers and workers at Warton whose livelihoods are under threat now.
“I asked the Defence Minister, Maria Eagle MP, directly when the long-promised order of 25 new Typhoons will finally be confirmed. What we got instead was more vague assurances, more ‘we’ll see’, and no real answers. The Minister seems to be pinning her hope on more export orders for Typhoon but if the UK Government won’t commit to buying more of these world class fighter jets it’s hardly going to encourage other countries to place their own orders.
“In January this year I warned the Government that just refurbishing older Typhoons and relying on export orders that haven’t materialised would not sustain the 6,000-strong workforce at Warton. I asked if we’d get a belated Christmas present in the form of a new order for RAF Typhoons, and the Minister hinted that we would. But when Labour’s Defence Review finally arrived, it was an empty box with no Typhoon order and nothing for Warton.
Today, in Defence Questions, I made clear: ‘If that wasn’t just buying time and offering false hope, then tell us when the order is coming.’ The response I got was deeply disappointing. There was no clarity, no commitment just a repeat of what was said six months ago.”
Fylde’s MP continued:
“If the Government fails to confirm this order soon, we face the very real prospect of losing not just thousands of jobs, but a vital national capability, the ability to design, assemble and deliver world-class military aircraft independently. Once that’s lost, we don’t get it back.
“Fylde is proud to play a central role in Britain’s defence industry, and I will not sit by while vague answers and dithering from Labour Ministers who appear not to know the difference between an F35 and a Typhoon put that at risk.
“The workforce at Warton deserve better than warm words and empty promises and I’ll keep pushing in Parliament until the Government does the right thing, commits to this order, protects our sovereign capabilities, and gives our local defence workers the certainty they deserve.”
