£10bn tank deal threat to 500 jobs
HUNDREDS of British jobs were put at risk yesterday when defence chiefs awarded a £10billion armoured vehicle contract to American giant General Dynamics.
The deal throws into doubt 500 jobs at British defence specialists BAE Systems, mainly at its Newcastle plant.
GD claims the contract for the demonstration phase of the armoured vehicles will safeguard or create 10,000 jobs in the UK, particularly in South Wales.
SPRING HAS ARRIVED! GET YOUR FREE GARDENING DVD HERE
But yesterday the Tories slammed Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth for rushing the contract through weeks before a General Election.
They also questioned how he could justify placing the order before a Strategic Defence Review planned for after the election had even begun.