05/09/2026
Check out my piece on the Ribble Valley County Conservatives page. Defence is always so important and something that has always interested me.
Perhaps with my Grandad in the war and us living where we do.
We really do need to be increasing defence spending as a nation otherwise we risk inadequacy when it will matter most.
๐ฌ๐ง DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY โ AND INVESTING IN RIBBLE VALLEY
Defence spending isnโt just about military equipment. It is about keeping Britain safe, supporting highly skilled jobs and protecting the industrial base we need to defend ourselves in an increasingly uncertain world.
For Ribble Valley, defence is particularly important.
BAE Systems at Samlesbury is one of the UKโs most important defence and aerospace sites, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across Lancashire and a huge supply chain of local businesses.
That means investment in defence is also investment in Lancashire โ supporting apprenticeships, engineering, research, manufacturing and well-paid skilled employment for generations to come.
We should be ambitious about maintaining Britain's position as a leading defence and aerospace nation:
๐น Properly funding our Armed Forces and ensuring they have the equipment they need.
๐น Backing British defence manufacturing, rather than becoming unnecessarily dependent on overseas suppliers.
๐น Supporting BAE Systems and the wider Lancashire supply chain, protecting highly skilled jobs in our region.
๐น Investing in apprenticeships, engineering and STEM education, giving young people opportunities to build careers locally.
๐น Recognising defence as an economic investment, not simply an expenditure.
Ribble Valley and Lancashire have a proud history of contributing to Britain's defence.
๐ฌ๐ง A stronger defence industry means a stronger Britain โ and a stronger economy for Ribble Valley and Lancashire.
