Minister urged to support Fylde aircraft makers

Mr Menzies showed the new Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin, the state-of-the-art hangers where the world’s most advanced combat aircraft – the Eurofighter Typhoon – is assembled.

Following the visit, Mr Menzies said: “While it may be tempting, during times of economic uncertainty, to buy cheaper off-the-shelf equipment from the United States, it is imperative we continue to back our home-grown talent and technologies.

“As a Minister who is new to her role, it was a pleasure to show Harriett Baldwin the workmanship which these engineers put into our aircraft and she was suitably impressed with the set-up at Warton.

“I spent a great deal of time talking up BAE Systems to her predecessor, Philip Dunne MP, and I am sure I will spend just as much time in Harriett’s office.”