Extra defence cash could be spent in Wales
Wales could benefit from plans to boost the UK's spending on defence, a treasury minister has said.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would boost military budgets to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, funded by cuts to foreign aid.On a visit to Airbus, in Newport, Darren Jones said it was a "great opportunity for the UK economy, including here in Wales".Finance Secretary for Wales, Mark Drakeford, said he expects a "share" of the extra cash to be spent in the country.
More than 160 companies supporting the defence sector have operations based in Wales, employing over 20,000 people.Firms include BAE Systems, which has a munitions facility in Monmouthshire, and General Dynamics, which is constructing its AJAX armoured vehicles in Merthyr Tydfil.On Thursday Jones and Drakeford visited Airbus's complex on the outskirts of Newport, which provides security systems for the Ministry of Defence and other private companies.The treasury minister is on a tour of the UK ahead of the spending review - a major announcement which will set out how the government allocates cash for public services.Asked if Wales could benefit from the defence announcement the chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC Wales: "Yes."Potentially we are spending more money on defence companies and defence technologies, which is a great opportunity for the UK economy, including here in Wales."He said there would be "plenty" of opportunities for businesses and workers at firms including Airbus."We've got the strategic defence review happening at the moment, the spending review will be concluded in June. Once we've done all of that, decided the strategy and the budget we will then just be getting on with spending that money."
Drakeford said: "Wales already makes a larger proportionate contribution to other parts of the UK to our armed forces. "We would certainly be able to see Wales get its share of a very important additional investment."Asked how he felt about the cuts to international aid to fund the military, the former first minister added: "There are some very difficult decisions."The world is changing around us and not changing in a way where it is easy to see how the pieces will all eventually fall."He said Sir Keir faced a "difficult balancing act".
The visit came ahead of meeting between Jones, Drakeford and finance ministers from Scotland and Northern Ireland. On wider UK government spending, Drakeford said he did not find it "frustrating" that there was divergence between the two Labour-run governments.Issues include High Speed 2 rail, which the Welsh government says should generate a financial benefit for Wales, and on the devolution of the Crown Estate."I think it is natural and normal," said Drakeford. "The responsibility for the Welsh government is to speak up for the things we know to be important here in Wales."Drakeford said the Welsh government continues "to have very productive discussions" on rail, where there is hope the UK government will invest in new stations.Jones said he did not want to be "relitigating the arguments of a past Conservative government".But he said there was a "shared ambition" over rail investment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
26 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Farage to call for Port Talbot blast furnaces to reopen
On a visit to the South Wales town, the party leader is expected to say that the resumption of traditional steelmaking should be a long-term ambition, a spokesman said. Mr Farage believes his party has a chance of ending Labour's long-standing dominance in Wales during the Senedd elections next year amid opinion poll momentum and gains made at the local polls last month. The Government has backed plans for a new £1.25 billion electric arc furnace at the Tata steelworks, with the switch-on due in 2027 as part of the push towards greener production. Tata Steel's Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales (Ben Birchall/PA) The plant's last blast furnace was shut down in September 2024. Some MPs have said workers in South Wales have been let down in comparison with those retaining jobs in Scunthorpe, where ministers took control of the steelworks to prevent the closure of its blast furnaces. The Government has said the two steelworks were in different situations. Mr Farage's speech comes as Reform seeks to draw a line under internal clashes after chairman Zia Yusuf quit the party on Thursday only to return 48 hours later, saying the resignation had been 'born out of exhaustion'. It followed a row in which he described a question to the Prime Minister concerning a ban on burkas from his party's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, as 'dumb'. Mr Yusuf will now have four jobs, including leading the party's plans to cut public spending via the so-called 'UK Doge', based on the US Department of Government Efficiency which was led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Mr Farage's spokesman said: 'He will focus part of the speech on Keir Starmer's year of failure in the UK as a whole but especially Wales. Of course for years Welsh Labour blamed all issues on the Tories in Westminster, now their excuse is gone and the game is up for them.' Reform had also been hoping to cause an upset last week in Scotland, where it was fighting a Holyrood by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, but Labour secured a shock victory. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney had claimed the contest would be a 'two-horse race' between the SNP and Reform but Mr Farage's party came third with 7,088 votes to Labour's 8,559 and the SNP's 7,957.
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Farage to call for Port Talbot blast furnaces to reopen
On a visit to the South Wales town, the party leader is expected to say that the resumption of traditional steelmaking should be a long-term ambition, a spokesman said. Mr Farage believes his party has a chance of ending Labour's long-standing dominance in Wales during the Senedd elections next year amid opinion poll momentum and gains made at the local polls last month. The Government has backed plans for a new £1.25 billion electric arc furnace at the Tata steelworks, with the switch-on due in 2027 as part of the push towards greener production. Tata Steel's Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales (Ben Birchall/PA) The plant's last blast furnace was shut down in September 2024. Some MPs have said workers in South Wales have been let down in comparison with those retaining jobs in Scunthorpe, where ministers took control of the steelworks to prevent the closure of its blast furnaces. The Government has said the two steelworks were in different situations. Mr Farage's speech comes as Reform seeks to draw a line under internal clashes after chairman Zia Yusuf quit the party on Thursday only to return 48 hours later, saying the resignation had been 'born out of exhaustion'. It followed a row in which he described a question to the Prime Minister concerning a ban on burkas from his party's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, as 'dumb'. Mr Yusuf will now have four jobs, including leading the party's plans to cut public spending via the so-called 'UK Doge', based on the US Department of Government Efficiency which was led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Mr Farage's spokesman said: 'He will focus part of the speech on Keir Starmer's year of failure in the UK as a whole but especially Wales. Of course for years Welsh Labour blamed all issues on the Tories in Westminster, now their excuse is gone and the game is up for them.' Reform had also been hoping to cause an upset last week in Scotland, where it was fighting a Holyrood by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, but Labour secured a shock victory. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney had claimed the contest would be a 'two-horse race' between the SNP and Reform but Mr Farage's party came third with 7,088 votes to Labour's 8,559 and the SNP's 7,957.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Nigel Farage vows to give young people opportunity to learn trades like welding and robotics in new plan
NIGEL Farage will offer young people the chance to take up trades such as welding and robotics as part of his re-industrialisation plans. The Reform UK leader will accuse Labour of forgetting their heartlands by offering a bright future to youths if they gain power. Farage has vowed to set up regional technical colleges in Wales teaching plumbing, electrical trades and industrial automation in a careers blitz if they win power there next year. The intervention is part of a major drive to win next year's elections there as he blames Labour's 'twenty-six years of failure' on a visit there today. The move comes as the party chief vows to abandon the government's Net Zero drive if he reaches power by re-opening coal mines. The party chief intends to give the green light to digging for British coal rather than importing it to help make home-grown steel. Ministers have set out their plans for not granting any more coal licences insisting that phasing out is crucial to tackling climate change. But during a major speech today, he will talk about how Wales produced 60 million tons of coal exporting half of it. He will also hail the country's heritage, he will address Port Talbot steelworks which were once the largest steel plant in Europe. The party chief will use a major speech in the Principality setting out his plans to re-industrialise the country in areas betrayed by Labour. He will take aim at Sir Keir Starmer's 'year of failure' since coming to power and saying the game is up for blaming the Tories for the woes of Wales. Mr Farage will also highlight how de-industrialisation there means GDP per head is £10,000 less than the UK. Watch moment Nigel Farage makes back door exit as Reform UK leader dodges protesters in Scotland 1
