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Unite brings defence demands to parliament and 10 Downing Street - 25 February 2026
Hundreds of defence and aerospace workers descended on Westminster in late February to protest at government dithering over spending commitments that has placed their jobs in jeopardy. Representatives from Unite and UK manufacturers such as BAE, Leonardo, Rolls Royce and Airbus were at Downing Street to see a petition handed to the prime minister Keir Starmer calling for the government to urgently publish the Defence Investment Plan and ensure it includes: the replacement of old RAF fighter jets with new Typhoons, fitted with Rolls Royce engines, equipped with British-built weapons from MBDA and assembled at BAE’s sites in Lancashire; the awarding of the new medium lift helicopter contract to Leonardo, to be manufactured at the company's plant in Yeovil, Somerset; Provisions for the MoDs Military Satellite Communications System (Skynet) to continue being built in Portsmouth and Stevenage, as it has for the last 20 years; and the purchase of the A400M military transport plane.
News updates on the event
News coverage featured across the media ranging from local publications - The News in Portsmouth: 'Dither and delay' putting Portsmouth Airbus jobs at risk as defence workers protest outside Downing Street; as well as national papers including the Times (£), Mirror and Guardian.
Stop delays and deliver UK jobs
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The UK’s increased defence budget must be used to boost jobs, growth and sovereign capability here in the UK. The prime minister has promised that increased defence spending will do that. He now needs to deliver on that promise without delay. Far too many defence workers are looking over their shoulders wondering where the next order will come from while the government sits on its hands. This uncertainty must end.”
Unite is calling on the government to urgently publish the Defence Investment Plan and to ensure it includes:
- The replacement of old RAF fighter jets with new Typhoons, fitted with Rolls Royce engines, equipped with British-built weapons from MBDA and assembled at BAE’s sites in Lancashire.
- The awarding of the new medium lift helicopter contract to Leonardo, to be manufactured at the company's plant in Yeovil, Somerset.
- Provisions for the MoDs Military Satellite Communications System (Skynet) to continue being built in Portsmouth and Stevenage, as it has for the last 20 years.
- The purchase of the A400M military transport plane
Unite represents thousands of workers in defence and the union has been in numerous conversations with government over many months, producing high level reports, outlining the need to put those words into action, for jobs and our national security. It's time for action.
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Background
UK prime minister Keir Starmer said: “This investment is not just about maintaining our defence capabilities; it is about boosting our economy and demonstrating that British engineering remains at the heart of our national renewal.
“Our task now is to seize the defence dividend, felt directly in the pockets of working people – rebuilding our industrial base, creating the jobs of the future, the skills for the next generation."
Keir Starmer must deliver on this promise. Starmer must increase defence spending to rebuild the UK’s industrial base and benefit workers.
Following reports that the Defence Investment Plan has been delayed due to spending concerns from Number 10, Unite, the UK’s leading union, which represents tens of thousands of defence workers, is demanding that the prime minister delivers on his promise that increased defence spending will benefit UK workers.
Unite has concerns over jobs associated with the new Typhoon aircraft for the RAF, an order for medium lift helicopters, the purchase of military transporter planes and the UK’s military satellite programme. Contracts in all areas are understood to be reliant on the decisions made in the ministry of defence’s, Defence Investment Plan. It is time to Deliver the Defence Investment Plan.