"Chancellor Rachel Reeves is poised to award a crucial contract to Italian defence company Leonardo, securing the future of Britain's last military helicopter manufacturing site and safeguarding 3,000 jobs. A Treasury source confirmed on Friday that the deal will prevent the closure of Leonardo's Yeovil facility in southwest England, which the firm had threatened without a new agreement."
"It is understood Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer had chosen to intervene in response to the Ministry of Defence deprioritising the project as part of the Defence Investment Plan. The approved contract will see 23 medium-lift support helicopters acquired, fewer than the 44 originally outlined in a 2022 government notice."
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has intervened to award a crucial £1 billion contract to Italian defence company Leonardo, preventing the closure of its Yeovil facility in southwest England. The deal safeguards 3,000 jobs at Britain's last military helicopter manufacturing site. Leonardo had threatened to close the facility without a new agreement, creating uncertainty ahead of a 1 March deadline. The contract will result in the acquisition of 23 medium-lift support helicopters, fewer than the 44 originally planned in a 2022 government notice. Reeves and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chose to intervene after the Ministry of Defence deprioritised the project in the Defence Investment Plan, ensuring UK defence spending protects British business and employment.
#uk-defence-contract #leonardo-helicopters #job-protection #government-intervention #military-manufacturing
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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