Government must urgently bring forward defence spending 'before it's too late', shipbuilding unions say.
Shipbuilding unions have backed a call for the Government to bring forward defence spending, changing the fiscal rules if necessary to do so.
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU - made up of GMB, Community, Prospect and Unite - has thrown its weight behind a report by the Alex Ferry Foundation ‘Defending the Nation, Growing the Economy’ [see notes for link to the report].
The report calls on Ministers to tweak the Government’s fiscal rules in order to bring forward the proposed increase in defence spending.
A Defence Commission, made up of defence companies, unions, and other experts, must also be established to ensure money spent defends the nation while growing the sector, the paper argues.
Matt Roberts, GMB National Officer and Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) President, said:
“Defence spending is at its best when it delivers good-quality union jobs across the country.
“This report sets out a vital blueprint on how to create this long-term security for our defence manufacturing sector.
"Having a clear sighted Defence Commission - linking together trade unions, skills policy, employers and government procurement - would help us to meet the Government's ambition of strengthening the economy while defending the nation.
“But, vitally, the Government must bring forward the planned increase to the defence budget, before it’s too late for the sector
