Defence spending increase 'can be powerful force for UK growth'

GMB Union has welcomed the announcement today [Tuesday] that defence spending will increase.

Matt Roberts, GMB National Officer, said:

"Defence spending can be a powerful force domestically for growth and levelling-up in our regions and nations - but only when we make good choices to buy British and invest in growing UK industry, skills and apprenticeships.

“Labour must make the right decisions for working-class communities that rely on our defence industry.

“Every pound of this budget increase should go into actual defence spending and not the HR costs that were included under the Conservatives."