An aircraft carrier with no aircraft..................so they close down a large chunk of our advanced aircraft industry that produces jet fighters !

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PETER HITCHENS: An aircraft carrier with no jobs is the least of our worries...

I should have been thrilled by the maiden voyage of the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. I grew up among warships and naval bases and normally love such things. But I wasn’t. Partly it was the fact that, gigantic as she is, she has all the grace and style of a floating hypermarket, or a seaborne car park. When did we forget how to make ships look beautiful?

But much more important was the knowledge that this painfully expensive leviathan is worse than useless. We madly got rid of our Harriers, the only aircraft we had that could have flown from her decks.

An aircraft carrier which has no planes is a metaphor for uselessness, like a pub with no beer, or a car with no wheels. But that is not the most miserable thing about this event.

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British Royal Navy aircfaft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth as she conducts vital system tests off the coast of Scotland

Even more important, it is almost a century since we were so unprepared, on land, at sea and in the air, for the unpredictable dangers we face. It has, by the way, been Tory governments, which preen themselves for their own supposed patriotism, who have reduced us to our present pitiful state. The Government knows it has done this.

Retired chiefs of all the Armed Services, speaking with immense knowledge and authority, have publicly warned about it in the House of Lords. Such men generally keep quiet. They must be genuinely distressed to have spoken out. What they say openly will be mild compared with the private views of current admirals, generals and air marshals.

So listen to Lord Craig of Radley, former Marshal of the RAF. Recalling how we were able to sustain severe losses in the Falklands and the first Gulf War because of carefully amassed reserves, he said: ‘Losses today, from a very much smaller order of battle than that of the Eighties, on a scale or rate such as those, would all too rapidly decimate our combat power, our resilience and our stamina.’

In other words, we simply do not now have enough kit to cope with a major war.

He added, tellingly, that it is not much use maintaining a nuclear deterrent unless we maintain our conventional strength as well.

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HMS Queen Elizabeth as she conducts vital system tests off the coast of Scotland

Lord West of Spithead, a former First Sea Lord, had still worse news. He was even blunter: ‘The Navy has too few ships and men and is having to make incoherent cuts to keep within the budget.’ Important ships (including the former flagship HMS Ocean) were being paid off, and – astonishingly – we will not even have any surface-to-surface or air-to-surface missiles for the next few years. ‘This is not an abstract issue. For a number of years, we will have ships deployed around the globe that may suddenly come across an opponent because things have escalated, and they will have to fight. I have done this, as have many of us here. We will have ships sunk and people killed. I have been in that position. We are standing into danger.’

Lord West also rightly underlined the Navy’s severe manpower crisis. Years of cuts and skill shortages have made life almost intolerable for experienced men and women, seriously overworked, who have left the service and not been replaced. As for Britannia ruling the waves, forget it. Not long ago, the policy was that we should have roughly 50 major surface ships. Not now. Lord West revealed: ‘We have only 19 escorts. This is a national disgrace for our great maritime nation.’

Remember, these are not the words of some tub-thumper on a street corner, but of a senior naval officer of great knowledge and experience.

But I have not finished. Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, joined in the sad chorus. Warning that there were ‘just not enough’ serving soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, he was as plain as his brother officers, he said: ‘We have cut the size of the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force too far.’

Pointing out that one day we would need an army in a hurry, he said: ‘I worry about the number of soldiers that we have – or, particularly, do not have. We are carrying too much risk. The last Government from 2010 and this present Government might get away with it, but the future will catch us out at some point and the verdict of history will be damning.’

These are words that it took some courage to say and are far more important than most of the minor squabbles now dominating much of our political life. We have been warned. Do we act, or do we pretend we have not heard? We will pay for this, or our children will. We are standing into danger.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4657988/Aircraft-carrier-no-jobs-worries.html#ixzz4v8vuZicO

 

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BAE set to cut a total of 2000 job, claim firm

BAE are set to cut 2,000 jobs

14 comments

BAE Systems is planning to cut almost 2,000 jobs in its military, maritime and intelligence services under moves to streamline its business and have a "sharper" competitive edge.
The biggest cutback will be in the military air business, with 1,400 jobs set to be axed across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place.
Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire.
Around 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE's maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth.
Some jobs will also go from the company's cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford.
Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: “BAE Systems is a world leader in technology, advanced manufacturing and engineering and our diverse portfolio provides a strong platform for future growth.
"The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology.
"These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment.

“Separately, we are also announcing actions at some of our UK sites to align our workforce capacity more closely with near-term demand and enhance our competitive position to secure new business.
"Those actions are necessary and the right thing to do for our company, but unfortunately include proposed redundancies at a number of operations.
"I recognise this will be difficult news for some of our employees and we are committed to do everything we can to support those affected.”

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/15586537.BAE_set_to_cut_a_total_of_2000_job__claim_firm/

NWN: The continual harassment of Army veterans some who left the army over 40 years ago and the continual cutting of our defences. Now this further example of the treason that they do. More evidence if evidence were needed, that the breaking up of the United Kingdom and making us entirely defenceless is continuing apace. Madness !!!!!

round 2,000 jobs to go at BAE Systems A BAE Systems Typhoon A BAE Systems Typhoon Tim Gavell Email Published: 10:13 Tuesday 10 October 2017 Share this article Union leaders have called upon the Government to intervene after BAE Systems revealed the full extent of its plans to cut jobs in Lancashire. The Unite union demanded that the Government end the uncertainty for thousands of BAE workers and manufacturing communities across Britain by committing to build the next generation fighter jet here in the UK. Yesterday the news leaked that the company was planning to cut more than 1,000 jobs, the bulk of which would be at the Warton and Samlesbury sites, due to the slowdown in orders for the Typhoon and Hawk aircraft. This morning the defence giant issued a trading update to the city which revealed that 2,000 jobs in its military, maritime and intelligence services will be axed under moves to streamline its business and have a "sharper" competitive edge. The biggest cutback will be in the military air business, with 1,400 jobs set to be axed across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place. ADVERTISING Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire. Around 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE's maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth. Some jobs will also go from the company's cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford. BAE is facing an order gap for the Typhoon so production is being slowed ahead of an expected order from Qatar. Production of the Hawk jet aircraft is ending in the next few years, affecting the Brough site, although Qatar could place a new order which would keep production going until 2020. Around 400 redundancies are being planned at Brough. Most of the military air job cuts will go in 2018 and 2019, with some planned for 2020 and BAE said its goal is to achieve as many voluntary redundancies as possible. BAE's cyber intelligence business will cut 150 jobs, split between sites in London, Guildford in Surrey, and overseas. The total number of proposed redundancies is 1,915. Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: "The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology. "These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment." Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “The UK government can end the uncertainty surrounding the future of thousands of British BAE defence jobs at a stroke by committing to building the next generation fighter jets here in the UK. “Ministers should be under no illusion. Once these jobs are gone, they are gone for a generation and with them the skills and ability to control our own defence and manufacture the next generation of fighter jets and other defence equipment in the UK. “The ripple effects down the supply chain and through our manufacturing communities would be immense too, hitting the workforces in other cutting edge companies that are involved in the manufacture of one of the best fighter jets in the world, as well as depriving communities of decent well paid jobs. "These planned job cuts will not only undermine Britain's sovereign defence capability, but devastate communities across the UK who rely on these skilled jobs and the hope of a decent future they give to future generations. "These are world class workers with years of training and expertise on which an additional four jobs rely upon in the supply chain. "The UK government must take back control of our nation's defence and with it, play its part in supporting UK defence manufacturing jobs. "Too much taxpayers' money earmarked for defence spending is going to factories overseas. By 2020, 25p of every pound spent on UK defence spending will find its way to American factories alone rather than being spent here in the UK. "This state of affairs is not only hollowing out Britain's sovereign defence capability and British manufacturing, but leaving the nation's defence exposed to the whim of foreign powers and corporate interests. "The British government can and should do more to defend UK defence jobs by investing in Britain and committing that long-term projects, such as the next generation jet fighter, future support vessels and Type 31e frigate are built here in the UK. "A failure to do so and take back control of our own defence needs will be a complete betrayal of the Government's primary responsibility to defend our nation and destroy decent jobs, skills and the communities that support them in the process."

Read more at: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/business/around-2-000-jobs-to-go-at-bae-systems-1-8796462

round 2,000 jobs to go at BAE Systems A BAE Systems Typhoon A BAE Systems Typhoon Tim Gavell Email Published: 10:13 Tuesday 10 October 2017 Share this article Union leaders have called upon the Government to intervene after BAE Systems revealed the full extent of its plans to cut jobs in Lancashire. The Unite union demanded that the Government end the uncertainty for thousands of BAE workers and manufacturing communities across Britain by committing to build the next generation fighter jet here in the UK. Yesterday the news leaked that the company was planning to cut more than 1,000 jobs, the bulk of which would be at the Warton and Samlesbury sites, due to the slowdown in orders for the Typhoon and Hawk aircraft. This morning the defence giant issued a trading update to the city which revealed that 2,000 jobs in its military, maritime and intelligence services will be axed under moves to streamline its business and have a "sharper" competitive edge. The biggest cutback will be in the military air business, with 1,400 jobs set to be axed across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place. ADVERTISING Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire. Around 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE's maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth. Some jobs will also go from the company's cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford. BAE is facing an order gap for the Typhoon so production is being slowed ahead of an expected order from Qatar. Production of the Hawk jet aircraft is ending in the next few years, affecting the Brough site, although Qatar could place a new order which would keep production going until 2020. Around 400 redundancies are being planned at Brough. Most of the military air job cuts will go in 2018 and 2019, with some planned for 2020 and BAE said its goal is to achieve as many voluntary redundancies as possible. BAE's cyber intelligence business will cut 150 jobs, split between sites in London, Guildford in Surrey, and overseas. The total number of proposed redundancies is 1,915. Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: "The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology. "These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment." Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “The UK government can end the uncertainty surrounding the future of thousands of British BAE defence jobs at a stroke by committing to building the next generation fighter jets here in the UK. “Ministers should be under no illusion. Once these jobs are gone, they are gone for a generation and with them the skills and ability to control our own defence and manufacture the next generation of fighter jets and other defence equipment in the UK. “The ripple effects down the supply chain and through our manufacturing communities would be immense too, hitting the workforces in other cutting edge companies that are involved in the manufacture of one of the best fighter jets in the world, as well as depriving communities of decent well paid jobs. "These planned job cuts will not only undermine Britain's sovereign defence capability, but devastate communities across the UK who rely on these skilled jobs and the hope of a decent future they give to future generations. "These are world class workers with years of training and expertise on which an additional four jobs rely upon in the supply chain. "The UK government must take back control of our nation's defence and with it, play its part in supporting UK defence manufacturing jobs. "Too much taxpayers' money earmarked for defence spending is going to factories overseas. By 2020, 25p of every pound spent on UK defence spending will find its way to American factories alone rather than being spent here in the UK. "This state of affairs is not only hollowing out Britain's sovereign defence capability and British manufacturing, but leaving the nation's defence exposed to the whim of foreign powers and corporate interests. "The British government can and should do more to defend UK defence jobs by investing in Britain and committing that long-term projects, such as the next generation jet fighter, future support vessels and Type 31e frigate are built here in the UK. "A failure to do so and take back control of our own defence needs will be a complete betrayal of the Government's primary responsibility to defend our nation and destroy decent jobs, skills and the communities that support them in the process."

Read more at: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/business/around-2-000-jobs-to-go-at-bae-systems-1-8796462

round 2,000 jobs to go at BAE Systems A BAE Systems Typhoon A BAE Systems Typhoon Tim Gavell Email Published: 10:13 Tuesday 10 October 2017 Share this article Union leaders have called upon the Government to intervene after BAE Systems revealed the full extent of its plans to cut jobs in Lancashire. The Unite union demanded that the Government end the uncertainty for thousands of BAE workers and manufacturing communities across Britain by committing to build the next generation fighter jet here in the UK. Yesterday the news leaked that the company was planning to cut more than 1,000 jobs, the bulk of which would be at the Warton and Samlesbury sites, due to the slowdown in orders for the Typhoon and Hawk aircraft. This morning the defence giant issued a trading update to the city which revealed that 2,000 jobs in its military, maritime and intelligence services will be axed under moves to streamline its business and have a "sharper" competitive edge. The biggest cutback will be in the military air business, with 1,400 jobs set to be axed across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place. ADVERTISING Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire. Around 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE's maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth. Some jobs will also go from the company's cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford. BAE is facing an order gap for the Typhoon so production is being slowed ahead of an expected order from Qatar. Production of the Hawk jet aircraft is ending in the next few years, affecting the Brough site, although Qatar could place a new order which would keep production going until 2020. Around 400 redundancies are being planned at Brough. Most of the military air job cuts will go in 2018 and 2019, with some planned for 2020 and BAE said its goal is to achieve as many voluntary redundancies as possible. BAE's cyber intelligence business will cut 150 jobs, split between sites in London, Guildford in Surrey, and overseas. The total number of proposed redundancies is 1,915. Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: "The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology. "These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment." Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “The UK government can end the uncertainty surrounding the future of thousands of British BAE defence jobs at a stroke by committing to building the next generation fighter jets here in the UK. “Ministers should be under no illusion. Once these jobs are gone, they are gone for a generation and with them the skills and ability to control our own defence and manufacture the next generation of fighter jets and other defence equipment in the UK. “The ripple effects down the supply chain and through our manufacturing communities would be immense too, hitting the workforces in other cutting edge companies that are involved in the manufacture of one of the best fighter jets in the world, as well as depriving communities of decent well paid jobs. "These planned job cuts will not only undermine Britain's sovereign defence capability, but devastate communities across the UK who rely on these skilled jobs and the hope of a decent future they give to future generations. "These are world class workers with years of training and expertise on which an additional four jobs rely upon in the supply chain. "The UK government must take back control of our nation's defence and with it, play its part in supporting UK defence manufacturing jobs. "Too much taxpayers' money earmarked for defence spending is going to factories overseas. By 2020, 25p of every pound spent on UK defence spending will find its way to American factories alone rather than being spent here in the UK. "This state of affairs is not only hollowing out Britain's sovereign defence capability and British manufacturing, but leaving the nation's defence exposed to the whim of foreign powers and corporate interests. "The British government can and should do more to defend UK defence jobs by investing in Britain and committing that long-term projects, such as the next generation jet fighter, future support vessels and Type 31e frigate are built here in the UK. "A failure to do so and take back control of our own defence needs will be a complete betrayal of the Government's primary responsibility to defend our nation and destroy decent jobs, skills and the communities that support them in the process."

Read more at: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/business/around-2-000-jobs-to-go-at-bae-systems-1-8796462