Today in the House of Commons, Labour MP Peter Prinsley proposed cutting the UK’s planned order of F-35 fighter jets by one to preserve the BBC World Service’s vital role as a global soft power asset.
Prinsley noted that the Foreign Office currently contributes around £100 million annually to the BBC World Service, which he compared to the cost of a single F-35 jet.
Prinsley posed the question to Hamish Falconer, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, asking, “Would the Minister agree that we might consider acquiring only 73 of them, if that was the price of preserving the BBC World Service?”
In response, Falconer acknowledged the BBC World Service’s significant value, both internationally and as a UK soft power asset. He confirmed that the government provides £104 million annually to the service, which he described as “very good value indeed.” However, Falconer was careful not to engage in any direct discussion of budgetary changes, stating, “I will not seek to get into budget negotiations in advance of the Budget—I know better than that.”
The exchange also prompted a moment of light-hearted intervention from Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who called for order when another MP, Fred Thomas, crossed behind Falconer mid-response, saying, “I am really going to have to say something to the Whips.”
While no formal proposal has been made to reduce the number of F-35 jets, and it’s unlikely, the exchange highlights the importance of the BBC World Service in international relations and the cost of maintaining the UK’s defence capabilities.
The F-35 boosts UK jobs and industry
The F-35 fighter jet programme has become a cornerstone of the UK’s defence industry, creating significant economic benefits and supporting thousands of jobs. As the only Level 1 partner in the Joint Strike Fighter programme, the UK plays a critical role in the production of the aircraft, which will see more than 3,000 jets built worldwide. The Ministry of Defence estimates that the programme could generate between 19,000 and 25,000 jobs across various sectors, from manufacturing and engineering to software development.
British companies such as BAE Systems, GE Aviation, Martin-Baker, and Rolls-Royce are key suppliers for the F-35, providing essential components and expertise. At BAE’s facility in Samlesbury, engineers work on developing software for the aircraft, including vital updates like Block 3i, which equips the jets with nearly 90% of the software needed for full operational capability. The programme has been described as a major driver for high-skill jobs in the UK, with its impact felt across the defence sector and beyond.
However, the financial impact of the F-35 goes beyond job creation. The programme is expected to generate around £1 billion in revenue for UK industry at peak production, with British firms already securing £5 billion worth of contracts. While former Defence Minister Philip Dunne has described the F-35 programme as the most valuable defence initiative of modern times, contributing to economic growth and technological advancement, the overall cost of the programme has faced some criticism. As with any large defence investment, questions remain about balancing the substantial financial commitment with broader public spending priorities.
Funding ‘ringfenced’ for Britain to operate 74 F-35 jets
Earlier this year, we reported that the UK had ringfenced specific funding for the purchase of 74 F-35 jets, as confirmed by James Cartlidge, then Minister of State for Defence Procurement, in his communication with Jeremy Quin MP, previous Chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee.
He stated:
“Following the successful stand up of 809NAS in December 2023, Force growth will continue to mature and build our frontline squadrons’ capabilities out to December 2025. Force growth remains an actively managed issue. We have already implemented the first increased recruitment of the required engineering workforce across the RN and RAF. The Operational Conversion Unit continues to graduate F-35B pilots into the Force at a sufficient rate. Additionally, the Force has trained a new tactical weapons instructor and 6 flying instructors, which has provided additional instructor depth. However, Lockheed Martin has currently suspended aircraft release post-production as they have experienced software instability during developmental testing of Technical Refresh 3, the next pan-platform software upgrade. We are aware of the current short-term delays to UK aircraft deliveries. At this time, it is not assessed to impact the scheduled FOC declaration at the end of 2025.
Beyond FOC, deliveries of ‘Tranche 2’ will start and the next significant operational capability development will occur towards the end of the decade, with UK weapons
(METEOR and SPEAR 3) being fielded on the UK’s front-line. UK and JPO negotiations regarding the ‘Tranche 2’ buy of a further 27 F-35 aircraft are going well. This next procurement phase is expected to complete the internal approvals process during summer 2024. It will realise our long-term ambition to deepen Carrier Enabled Power Projection capability and will bring the UK fleet up to 74 aircraft, allowing us to create a third front line squadron by 2033. Funding for this next phase has been ringfenced under an approved ABC Option.”
The United Kingdom has also, it appears, signalled a reaffirmation of its commitment to procure 138 F-35B aircraft, as per the original plan laid out in the early stages of the programme. In a recent parliamentary exchange, James Cartlidge, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, provided a detailed response regarding the UK’s commitment to the F-35 programme.
On 5th February 2024, he stated:
“All Partner Nations place orders for F-35 through the Joint Program Office in low-rate initial production Lots. The average time between the multi-national orders being placed for each Lot and deliveries to customer nations is between two to four years.
For details of United Kingdom delivery timescales from Lot 3 to Lot 14, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer that Baroness Goldie gave to the Noble Lord, Lord Moonie on 4 November 2019 to Question HL520, which remains extant. The multi-national order for low-rate initial production Lots 15-17 was placed in early 2023, which set delivery timescales of a further thirteen UK F-35B aircraft out to 2025.
The UK remains committed to 138 aircraft through the life of the programme. However, no contracts have been placed by any nation beyond production Lot 17. Precise details of delivery timescales for subsequent production Lots will be taken at the appropriate time, as part of the wider multi-national orders. This ensures the most appropriate capability and the best value for money.”
How about MPs fund it through their own high wages and tax payer funds for their expenses and second homes?
I support the BBC World Service, but not at the expense of hard power.
Won’t argue with that one , well said 👍
I’m afraid MPs salaries, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t add up to a whole can of beans. Getting rid of second homes would mean they would need to be put up in hotels which would obviously be more expensive.
Hard power costs money and I don’t think this guy has a clue what it is for or why we need it.
MP salary’s are terrible, This is largely the reason we end up with so many muppets. Anyone who thinks £91,000 in central London is highly paid need not apply.
Agree.
And trying to clamp down on second jobs means all the barristers and older PLC directors have to choose. So the proper experience is lost to the house.
I know mate, I was not seriously suggesting, even if they added it all up, that it would amount to the cost of even one plane.
It’s more the principle.
I assume this Labour MP is….one of those Labour MPs some of us dread.
If you really want to get MPs working hard for the country then when they enter the house liquidate all their assets and hand them over to the treasury and they get them back when they leave + or – a percentage of how the economy of the country is faring. Granted one or two of them might work themselves to death in the process but I think it is a fair trade.
They want to be in government we want them to put their money where their mouths are.
Do you have any idea how much an MP gets for a second home in London? It’s £2000 per month or £2600 if you have a family.
That puts them in the bottom 40% of rental choices in London.
How much more do you want to cut that buy?
As I said to Mark, I was more serious on the principle of removing MPs perks before cutting hard power military assets.
OK, so by his sums that’s 1 year, what’s his long term proposal? Kill off the F35s and go back to Fairey Swordfish ??
It is derisory.
£2600 just about pays a £500k mortgage at present rates.
Good luck finding anywhere within walking distance of well anywhere useful in London for that sort of money!
To be fair that is a London problem. Move parliament to the North West. Plenty of large detached residences for a lot less that £500000. I’m sure that some Saudi Prince would want a very fancy palace in London that would more than pay for the move.
frankly, 1 threat to the BBC’s soft power is the right-wing defund the BBC who wants the BBC defunded
A very good threat since BBC has no credibility.
Well as a licence payer I helped fund Gary Linekers £1.3 m per year salary (yeah I know he is taking a cut ..well, boo hoo!) so yeah I think too much money goes towards celebrities salaries and not enough towards good programs anymore, so yeah the BBC needs to be reined in a bit.
Click bate title, that’s not what he is saying
Use the “overseas aid” budget to fund it.
It is the only part of the BBC worth saving