STORM CLOUDS OVER TYPHOON


Union leaders called for ‘urgent clarity’ from the government about the future of the UK’s fighter plane fleet after plans to buy 12 US made F-35A aircraft were announced.


The RAF’s Typhoon fighter fleet is ageing and needs replacing. The Unite union has argued this should be with the latest version of the Typhoon, made by BAE Systems at Warton.


It says that move would immediately protect around 20,000 highly skilled, well paid defence jobs, primarily in Lancashire.


BAE Systems workers based at its Samlesbury operation are involved with the production of the rear fuselage of the F-35.


However, Unite says that the often-quoted figure that 15 per cent of every F-35 is built in the UK is not true. It puts it at only around three per cent.


Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Not replacing existing fighter planes with new Typhoons would be a tremendous act


of national self-harm. Government ministers need to stop dancing around their handbags and announce that we will be purchasing new T5 Typhoons.


“If we fail to back our defence industry then we will lose our sovereign capability to build fighter jets.”


She also warned of a loss of skills or ability needed to develop the Tempest aircraft.


A BAE Systems spokesperson said: “We are experienced at responding to the changing demands of the Typhoon programme to ensure we retain our specialist skills.


“The strong level of interest, commitment and investment in the aircraft from current and potential customers gives us confidence that Typhoon production in the UK will take us into the next decade - we’re working hard to secure these orders which are critical to secure the UK’s long-term sovereign combat air capability.”


Aerospace and Defence Page 37 View from the gallery FAILING TO RISE TO


THE OCCASION By Antony Higginbotham


Former Member of Parliament for Burnley


In June the chancellor announced the results of her Spending Review. It was full of the usual spin about record amounts for this and fixing the problems with that, but scratch beneath the surface and the reality is far less rosy.


Whilst this began with a spending spree, with Rachel Reeves talking up the huge borrowing she’s undertaking, a significant portion was a re-announcement of measures funded by her tax rises announced last autumn. What was much more concerning were the wild assumptions for later in the Parliament, including on productivity improvements and economic growth, to fund day-to-day spending.


So optimistic are Reeves’ assumptions that they’re already way ahead of what the OBR and BoE are forecasting for this year!


Why does that matter? Because with the economy growing at a sluggish 1.5 per cent and the toll of tax rises and job-killing employment laws already having an effect, the bills just can’t be paid and the chancellor will now have to either break her own fiscal rules or come back for more tax rises in the autumn.


The picture might be less bleak if it looked like the PM, chancellor and backbench Labour MPs had the stomach for some tough decisions. But as we saw with the cave-in on public sector pay awards, they


don’t and that became evident again on welfare reform.


Almost a year ago I wrote my column on the welfare reforms announced by the then Conservative government. Designed to save almost £12bn they were realistic but arguably still too modest.


Labour announced a watered-down package designed to save £5bn. But even this has proven too contentious, with Starmer facing the biggest rebellion threat of his premiership and the final savings likely to be closer to £3bn. To put this into context, the welfare bill excluding pensions is projected to hit £195bn by 2029/30.


Across every metric our economy is showing that not only is it in a worse place than 12 months ago, but it isn’t getting better either. Inflation is up, unemployment is up, GDP growth is down, borrowing costs are higher and debt continues to rise without a serious plan to get it back under control.


We all need to see this government succeed. Their success will be the country’s success. But they are failing to rise to the occasion and only a serious course correction can turn the tide.


Antony Higginbotham is a former Member of Parliament and now co-runs Polaris Partners, a Lancashire based Political Consultancy. He can be contacted on antony@polaris-partners.co.uk.


LANCASHIREBUSINES SV IEW.CO.UK


Miranda Barker OBE Chief executive


@elancschamber


IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN, STEP UP


AND BE COUNTED Welcome to the Great North – the replacement for the NP11, the much vaunted alliance and lobbying block of northern geographies.


Whether Combined Authorities or county leaders, the NP11 brought us together to present a united front to government. At least, that’s what it was supposed to do.


Lancashire has always been somewhat underpowered when playing in bigger pools, out-manned and out-gunned and lacking committed representation at every level through lack of manpower – or, even worse, lack of fire power.


But we shouldn’t be like this. We need to be taking EVERY opportunity to force Lancashire forward, gain profile, traction, be a full partner in northern industrial asks for government investment.


Now is the time to change this. Now is the time to join in, step up and be counted.


The North can’t deliver without Lancashire. The full potential of innovation, design and creation cannot be fulfilled without us.


Manchester and Liverpool cannot deliver advanced manufacturing without Lancashire. The coastal arc of nuclear capacity is hollow without our expertise.


The door is open too – our friends and colleagues across the Great North, in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool are holding it open for us – inviting us in.


They know that their ask to government, their call for game changing investment, their challenge that the time for infrastructure investment is now – is all the more potent with us inside the tent.


So I ask: challenge, encourage and implore our new leaders – enable this, drive this, lead this.


Show the politicians this is how it should be done. Do it. It’s time.


Call us on 01254 356400 or visit chamberelancs.co.uk


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