Unite welcomes Defence Committee Report

Unite has welcomed the Commons Defence Committee's report which criticises the government's approach to the strategic defence and security review (SDSR).

The Defence Select Committee has said the ConDems are rushing the strategic defence review and mistakes could be made. Unite believes that the government's SDSR is based on the Treasury's determination to drive through cuts what ever the cost to the country's future security, our armed forces and the need to defend our country.
George Osborne's decision to break convention and force the MOD to pay for the full capital costs for the replacement of the

Trident submarine fleet, will mean devastation to the MOD procurement budget and will leave this nation and our armed forces potentially more poorly equipped than at any time in their history. As the Defence Select Committee said: "it is unclear how a successor to Trident would be paid for". Unite believes that it will be to the cost of every other procurement contract that is currently underway.

Bernie Hamilton, Unite National Officer said: "The strategic defence and security review will leave the Tory's reputation for being strong on defence in tatters. If Liam Fox allows these rushed and ill conceived cuts to take place he will preside over the decimation of thousands of highly skilled jobs, who's professionalism and skills can never be replaced once they are gone. "