MP Adam Dance has been campaigning for the contract to protect Yeovil jobs

MP calls on Government to make helicopter decision – and protect Yeovil jobs

Paul JonesJanuary 13, 20260 Comment0

THOUSANDS of jobs in Yeovil could be put at risk if the Government continues to delay a decision over new military helicopters, an MP has warned.

Adam Dance (Lib Dem, Yeovil) took to the Commons on Monday (January 12) to push Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Procurement, on when workers at Leonardo would find out if they had been awarded a £1 billion contract as part of the New Medium Helicopter programme.

The Somerset MP said delays were putting thousands of jobs at Leonardo at ‘serious risk’.

The firm has been the sole bidder for more than a year – yet the Government has failed to make a decision, despite repeatedly claiming an announcement would be made ‘soon’.

Mr Dance said the continued inaction could see Yeovil lose more than 3,000 highly-skilled manufacturing jobs, support for more than 12,000 jobs across the regional supply chain, and £320 million Leonardo contributes to the local economy each year.

He also warned delays threaten the UK’s ability to build helicopters end to end at a time of growing global insecurity.

During an Urgent Question in the Commons, Mr Dance challenged the Government to confirm whether the contract would go ahead, whether funding remained available, and whether Ministers would commit to protecting the future of the Yeovil site.

He also questioned why the contract continues to be delayed by its link to the Defence Investment Plan.

Responding, Mr Pollard said the decision would be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan and announced “shortly”.

He told the Commons Leonardo “remains an important strategic partner for the MoD” and “remains on my priority list”.

He said it would be announced “as soon as possible”.

Mr Dance said: “For more than a year, Labour Ministers have been telling me a decision on the New Medium Helicopter contract is coming soon. Today, once again, Yeovil was told to wait. That is simply not acceptable.

“This delay now puts thousands of skilled jobs at risk and threatens a proud engineering heritage that has been part of Yeovil for generations. People here deserve certainty, not more broken promises.

“I welcome the Minister’s willingness to meet again and his engagement with Leonardo’s leadership, but the Government must now act. I will keep pressing until this contract is awarded and jobs, skills and our national defence capability in Yeovil are properly protected.”