On Thursday 11th December 2008, Defence Secretary John Hutton announced delays of one to two years in the in-service dates of the two new aircraft carriers (CVF), HM Ships Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales. He accompanied this statement with an assurance that there would be no loss of jobs. As MP for Birkenhead, he knows this to be disingenuous, as jobs that would have been created, at a time when employment is such an important issue, will now be delayed. The arrival of a full-time Defence Secretary who understands the connection between the creation of hi-tech jobs, the benefits to the economy and the importance of appropriately equipped armed forces in protecting our national interests worldwide is welcomed by all three services. However, like his immediate predecessors, he finds himself between a rock and a hard place - toeing the party line while trying to manage a defence budget that has fallen to its lowest level since the 1930s at just 2.3% of GDP.
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