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City MP responds to the Modernising Defence Programme

By 18 December 2018September 8th, 2022No Comments

City MP Stephen Morgan has responded to the publication of the Government’s defence review ‘Mobilising, Modernising & Transforming Defence: A report on the Modernising Defence Programme’ in the House of Commons today.

The Portsmouth South MP said:

“This is a long overdue statement from the Secretary of State for Defence. The Modernising Defence Programme which was promised last January, then again before summer holidays, and here we are, almost a year on, finally something before the House of Commons.

Today I was hoping to see exactly what the Government is prepared to do in order to fill the £14bn gaping black hole in our country’s defence budget. Sadly we were let down.

Despite the reported rows with Cabinet colleagues and delays that have made the review one of the longest in modern times, the Defence Secretary has failed to deliver for our armed forces.

The Government can no longer ignore this funding black hole. They need to sit up and take heed of the National Audit Office’s recommendations, and finally produce a plan that secures the future of our armed forces, protects jobs and allows industry to deliver with confidence”.

Nia Griffith MP, Labour’s Defence Secretary added:

“At a time when our country faces growing security challenges, it is grossly irresponsible for Conservative Ministers to simply stick their heads in the sand. Labour has a plan to support our UK industry and maximise the UK’s defence capability for the future.”