Labour has cut ￡160m from a fighter jet programme. (Image: Getty)
The Labour government is to spend a staggering ￡160million less than forecasted on a vital RAF programme.
News about the next generation fighter programme comes just days before Rachel Reeves will announce her highly anticipated Budget.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rachel Reeves warned "jobs tax" will destroy business confidence
40 Comments
Keir Starmer squirms as BBC reporter grills him over new tax hike threat
583 Comments
Labour civil war as MPs make plea to Rachel Reeves over winter fuel raid
508 Comments
Labour civil war as Rachel Reeves battles cabinet members over UK's ￡100bn black hole
1519 Comments
Tax relief warning as pensioners could face 70 per cent charge in Labour raid
Comments
'Unacceptable!' One in five pension credit claims not processed within target timeframe
16 Comments
I was in the room at Labour's investment summit and there was one repeated feeling
1263 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned landlord tax raid will backfire as London rent hits crazy ￡2,694
64 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1321 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
96 Comments
Panic in Cornwall as tourists abandon seaside towns leaving holiday homes empty
264 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
19 Comments
National Insurance tax raid warning as expert warns Rachel Reeves could close 'loophole'
15 Comments
Majorca panic as number of restaurants closing on island to triple after 'abusive' changes
19 Comments
Labour sending 'wrong message' to Putin after ￡160m cut to next-gen fighter jet program
81 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
14 Comments
Rachel Reeves gives biggest hint yet on what she's plotting to fill UK '￡22bn black hole'
461 Comments
SPECIAL REPORT: 3 ways Labour will tax your pensions in Budget - and how to fight back now
298 Comments
Warning over Rachel Reeves' National Insurance worker pension 'tax on jobs'
3 Comments
Urgent ISA warning issued as people rush to protect savings before Rachel Reeves' Budget
6 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned "jobs tax" will destroy business confidence
40 Comments
Keir Starmer squirms as BBC reporter grills him over new tax hike threat
583 Comments
Labour civil war as MPs make plea to Rachel Reeves over winter fuel raid
508 Comments
Labour civil war as Rachel Reeves battles cabinet members over UK's ￡100bn black hole
1519 Comments
Tax relief warning as pensioners could face 70 per cent charge in Labour raid
Comments
'Unacceptable!' One in five pension credit claims not processed within target timeframe
16 Comments
I was in the room at Labour's investment summit and there was one repeated feeling
1263 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned landlord tax raid will backfire as London rent hits crazy ￡2,694
64 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1321 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
96 Comments
Panic in Cornwall as tourists abandon seaside towns leaving holiday homes empty
264 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
19 Comments
National Insurance tax raid warning as expert warns Rachel Reeves could close 'loophole'
15 Comments
Majorca panic as number of restaurants closing on island to triple after 'abusive' changes
19 Comments
Labour sending 'wrong message' to Putin after ￡160m cut to next-gen fighter jet program
81 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
14 Comments
Rachel Reeves gives biggest hint yet on what she's plotting to fill UK '￡22bn black hole'
461 Comments
SPECIAL REPORT: 3 ways Labour will tax your pensions in Budget - and how to fight back now
298 Comments
Warning over Rachel Reeves' National Insurance worker pension 'tax on jobs'
3 Comments
Urgent ISA warning issued as people rush to protect savings before Rachel Reeves' Budget
6 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned "jobs tax" will destroy business confidence
40 Comments
Keir Starmer squirms as BBC reporter grills him over new tax hike threat
583 Comments
Labour civil war as MPs make plea to Rachel Reeves over winter fuel raid
508 Comments
Labour civil war as Rachel Reeves battles cabinet members over UK's ￡100bn black hole
1519 Comments
Tax relief warning as pensioners could face 70 per cent charge in Labour raid
Comments
'Unacceptable!' One in five pension credit claims not processed within target timeframe
16 Comments
I was in the room at Labour's investment summit and there was one repeated feeling
1263 Comments
The project, known as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), is deemed to be highly important during a period of global instability and fears of war.
Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces minister, said in a written parliamentary answer that the project hasn't been scrapped altogether, with the funding being reduced instead to ￡1.3 billion - a decrease of ￡160 million.
He said: "At the start of this financial year, it was expected that the Ministry of Defence would spend up to ￡1.46 billion.
READ MORE: Rachel Reeves warned landlord tax raid will backfire as London rent hits ￡2,694
The RAF programme has been 'cut', says the shadow defence secretary. (Image: Getty)
"The forecast was reduced to ￡1.3 billion due to revised estimates of programme activity from industry throughout the year."
Mr Pollard was responding to the shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, who accused Labour of "cutting" GCAP, a move that "sends entirely the wrong message to our adversaries".
He told The Telegraph: "With the threats we face – from Russia’s continued aggression, to Iran and its proxies in the Middle East – we should be urgently boosting defence spending, not cutting it.
"Cutting a key capability like GCAP is bad for jobs and businesses around the UK and sends entirely the wrong message to our adversaries.
DON'T MISS:
Donald Trump to work shift in McDonald's frying chips to mock Kamala Harris [LATEST]
Starmer accused of ‘weakening’ Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform [REPORT]
DWP abandons 'sick note' PIP voucher plan as Labour begins benefits reform [INSIGHT]
"The Government needs to urgently avoid further cuts by setting a clear path to 2.5 percent in the Budget later this month."
Before the election, Labour pledged to increase military spending to 2.5 percent of the country's GDP "as soon as possible", though it has already been accused of downgrading this figure.
An MoD spokesperson maintained that the GCAP hasn't been cut and the funding was agreed upon by the defence industry.
They said: "These claims are false – the revised forecast was the result of joint MoD-industry planning. Positive progress continues developing a future fighter jet, due to take to the skies by 2035.
"The UK has invested over ￡2 billion already in the Future Combat Air System programme and the associated R&D programme."
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
This comes ahead of Rachel Reeves' Budget on October 30. (Image: Getty)
Trending
GCAP was launched in 2018 by the UK, Italy, and Japan in order to develop a new stealth fighter jet to replace the current Eurofighter Typhoons by the 2030s.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rachel Reeves warned "jobs tax" will destroy business confidence
40 Comments
Keir Starmer squirms as BBC reporter grills him over new tax hike threat
583 Comments
Labour civil war as MPs make plea to Rachel Reeves over winter fuel raid
508 Comments
Labour civil war as Rachel Reeves battles cabinet members over UK's ￡100bn black hole
1519 Comments
Tax relief warning as pensioners could face 70 per cent charge in Labour raid
Comments
'Unacceptable!' One in five pension credit claims not processed within target timeframe
16 Comments
I was in the room at Labour's investment summit and there was one repeated feeling
1263 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned landlord tax raid will backfire as London rent hits crazy ￡2,694
64 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1321 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
96 Comments
Panic in Cornwall as tourists abandon seaside towns leaving holiday homes empty
264 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
19 Comments
National Insurance tax raid warning as expert warns Rachel Reeves could close 'loophole'
15 Comments
Majorca panic as number of restaurants closing on island to triple after 'abusive' changes
19 Comments
Labour sending 'wrong message' to Putin after ￡160m cut to next-gen fighter jet program
81 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
14 Comments
Rachel Reeves gives biggest hint yet on what she's plotting to fill UK '￡22bn black hole'
461 Comments
SPECIAL REPORT: 3 ways Labour will tax your pensions in Budget - and how to fight back now
298 Comments
Warning over Rachel Reeves' National Insurance worker pension 'tax on jobs'
3 Comments
Urgent ISA warning issued as people rush to protect savings before Rachel Reeves' Budget
6 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned "jobs tax" will destroy business confidence
40 Comments
Keir Starmer squirms as BBC reporter grills him over new tax hike threat
583 Comments
Labour civil war as MPs make plea to Rachel Reeves over winter fuel raid
508 Comments
Labour civil war as Rachel Reeves battles cabinet members over UK's ￡100bn black hole
1519 Comments
Tax relief warning as pensioners could face 70 per cent charge in Labour raid
Comments
'Unacceptable!' One in five pension credit claims not processed within target timeframe
16 Comments
I was in the room at Labour's investment summit and there was one repeated feeling
1263 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned landlord tax raid will backfire as London rent hits crazy ￡2,694
64 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1321 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
96 Comments
Panic in Cornwall as tourists abandon seaside towns leaving holiday homes empty
264 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
19 Comments
National Insurance tax raid warning as expert warns Rachel Reeves could close 'loophole'
15 Comments
Majorca panic as number of restaurants closing on island to triple after 'abusive' changes
19 Comments
Labour sending 'wrong message' to Putin after ￡160m cut to next-gen fighter jet program
81 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
14 Comments
Rachel Reeves gives biggest hint yet on what she's plotting to fill UK '￡22bn black hole'
461 Comments
SPECIAL REPORT: 3 ways Labour will tax your pensions in Budget - and how to fight back now
298 Comments
Warning over Rachel Reeves' National Insurance worker pension 'tax on jobs'
3 Comments
Urgent ISA warning issued as people rush to protect savings before Rachel Reeves' Budget
6 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned "jobs tax" will destroy business confidence
40 Comments
Keir Starmer squirms as BBC reporter grills him over new tax hike threat
583 Comments
Labour civil war as MPs make plea to Rachel Reeves over winter fuel raid
508 Comments
Labour civil war as Rachel Reeves battles cabinet members over UK's ￡100bn black hole
1519 Comments
Tax relief warning as pensioners could face 70 per cent charge in Labour raid
Comments
'Unacceptable!' One in five pension credit claims not processed within target timeframe
16 Comments
I was in the room at Labour's investment summit and there was one repeated feeling
1263 Comments
In July, Pollard raised alarm bells when he said the project's future depends on Labour's defence review, which Keir Starmer responded to by saying that it was "a really important programme".
The Tories were due to increase the defence budget every year until it reached 2.5 percent of the country's GDP in 2030, but Labour has refused to match this, with Starmer merely saying the 2.5 percent target will be reached "in due course".