I visited Babcock in Plymouth today with James Cartlidge, Shadow Defence Secretary, to see first-hand the scale of defence work being delivered here in the South West.
We toured the Jackal vehicle facility, where Babcock, working with Devon-based Supacat, is contracted to deliver up to 240 light armoured vehicles for the British Army. This is highly skilled manufacturing that supports local jobs and feeds directly into frontline capability.
We also visited HMS Kent, a Type 23 frigate currently undergoing deep maintenance at Devonport, including major upgrades to its structure and systems. The dockyard remains essential to sustaining the Royal Navy.
What stood out throughout the visit was how central the South West is to the UK’s defence capability - not just through Devonport itself, but through the workforce, supply chains, and the wider regional economy it supports.
The visit also highlighted the uncertainty facing industry. The Government’s Defence Investment Plan is long overdue, despite being promised for autumn 2025. Without it, defence companies don’t know what equipment the Government intends to order, when those orders will come, or at what scale. That lack of clarity is being felt on the factory floor, where long-term planning, investment and jobs depend on firm decisions and reliable funding. This delay directly undermines our preparedness and war-readiness.
For all the talk of increased defence spending, delivery is what counts. Industry needs certainty, not slogans and I will continue to hold the Government to account on this.
