- Biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War delivering 38,700 jobs and providing an additional £650m to the South East.
- 13 potential new sites identified for new munitions and energetics factories, including in Hampshire, with the first expected to begin construction next year.
- Plan brings back defence production not seen in Britain for two decades.
Last week, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves confirmed during the Autumn Budget that our area could become home to one of the landmark new munitions and energetics factories, the first to be built in Britain for two decades.
Defence Secretary John Healey expects industry to break ground on the first factory next year – with 13 potential sites identified nationwide, creating at least 1,000 new jobs.
These new factories are backed by £1.5BN of new defence investment this Parliament for munitions and high-volume energetic material.
It comes on the back of the biggest defence uplift since the Cold War delivering and supporting 38,700 jobs in the South East with £7.9bn. In just 15 months of government, over 1,000 major defence contracts signed, of which 86% are with British-based businesses.
The highly-skilled jobs created in these factories of the future will include engineers, electricians, machinists, construction workers, and fitters.
Defence support supports over 460,000 jobs in the UK, including over 24,000 Ministry of Defence apprenticeships and £28.8 billion spent with UK-based business. 70% of defence jobs are outside the Southeast England and Labour is committed to ensuring that the defence dividend is felt in every part of the UK.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan Mp for Portsmouth South said:
“This is a Labour government which is prioritising Portsmouth, recognising our city’s fizzing potential and the national contribution we can make as an engine for growth.
“Following the commitment made to regenerate HM Naval Base Portsmouth made at the Spring Statement, I welcome the Chancellor’s confirmation that our area could be home to new significant defence manufacturing.
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Defence Secretary to Portsmouth today to discuss this and other important matters.”
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
“For too long our proud industrial heartlands saw jobs go away and not come back.
“This Labour government rejects that failed approach of the past.
“We are unambiguously backing British jobs and British skills. It’s the only path that delivers national and economic security.
“Our record defence investment will be measured in good, unionised jobs, thriving businesses, new skills for the British people.”
In the Spring Statement, the Chancellor announced that Portsmouth Naval Base will see significant investment to upgrade its infrastructure through “Project Bentham”.
This project is set to increase the number of operational jetties and ship berths, protecting against forecast sea level rises and improving ship availability and operational readiness.
