LEADER of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, accused the Prime Minister of putting Somerset jobs at risk during PMQs today (January 21).

During the weekly questions in the House of Commons, Mr Davey (Lib Dem, Kingston), raised the issue of delays over the Government’s long-promised Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which could confirm a huge contract for military helicopters to be produced at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil.

This week, union representatives wrote to the PM, claiming repeated delays over the plan were putting thousands of jobs at risk in Somerset and beyond.

Mr Davey asked the Prime Minister: “The Government is going far too slow in investing in our defensive industries. It hasn’t even published the Defence Investment Plan that was promised last autumn – and that delay is putting critical industries like helicopter manufacturing based in Yeovil, at risk.

“Putin is waging a war in Europe, Trump is threatening to undermine NATO. We have to re-arm, fast, so why wont the Prime Minister just get on with buying Great British helicopters made in the west country?”

READ MORE: MP calls on Government to make defence decision – and save Yeovil jobs
READ MORE: Union workers write to PM over Yeovil jobs at risk due to defence delays

Mr Starmer said the Government had pledged the “biggest spend (on defence) since the last Labour government” and said Mr Davey should have supported the Government’s spending pledges at the last Budget.

“He wants more money on defence spending. He wants it faster. What did he do at the Budget? Did he stand up and say, ‘I support this?’ No, voted against it, against the measures necessary to carry out the upgrade.”

Previously, when quizzed by Yeovil MP Adam Dance, Minister for Defence Procurement, Luke Pollard, said he hoped to announce the DIP “shortly”, and that Leonardo remained “an important strategic partner for the MoD”.

READ MORE: Politics news from your Somerset Leveller