In the News - Northern Defence Network Launched
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northern-defence-body-formed-ensure-31154970
From the Evening Chronicle (link above)
“A body is being formed that aims to ensure the UK’s increased defence spending translates into jobs for the North East.
The Northern Defence Network - which is being co-ordinated by former Durham County Council leader Simon Henig, who is now working at public affairs firm Stephenson-Mohl - will bring together leading voices in the defence and security industries across the North “to ensure the North is at the cutting edge of future growth and investment”.
The formation of the group comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to create jobs and growth around the UK as part of the Government’s pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5% of the size of the economy from April 2027.
The increase in defence spending follows changes to US foreign policy and pledges from Sir Keir and a number of other European leaders to provide greater security for Ukraine and other countries. Sir Keir Starmer last week hailed the defence sector as offering “the next generation of good, secure, well-paid jobs” and officials are looking to boost the access of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to Armed Forces supply chains.
The Northern Defence Network wants to ensure the North is part of the increased defence activity but said that the North East currently gets the lowest spending of any UK region.
A spokesman for the Northern Defence Network said: “Our region has a long and proud history of contributing to defence spending. William George Armstrong established the Elswick Works on the banks of the Tyne as long ago as 1847, supplying the War Office from the 1850s. During the Second World War, the thousands of tanks and naval vessels produced by Vickers-Armstrong played a crucial role.
“By contrast in 2023/24 the Ministry of Defence spent less in the North East than any other region apart from Northern Ireland. However in earlier this month, a factory in Belfast was chosen to supply air defence missiles to Ukraine, a deal worth more than £1bn and which leaves the North East at the bottom of the UK league table for defence spending.
“So the time is now for our region to step up and for this to be reflected by the Government as well. We have the skills, the sites and the people to make a far larger contribution, as our history demonstrates. There are many companies across the region working very successfully in their own specialist fields within the defence sector. But we need to do more.”