Meet Our New Defence Minister

Bit of a slow news week this week - it’s as if something else has been happening - this really shouldn’t take you very long at all

Right, we’ve got a new Defence Minister (and Prime Minister, but no one cares), and it comes in the boyish form of Wes Streeting.

Wes has left his job as Health Secretary and taken the helm from John Healey. At a moment when the UK defence industry is screaming out for clarity from the Government on spending commitments, Wes had these calming words: the MOD needs to prove it is “spending existing resources wisely”, and any spending increase would come at “an opportunity cost across government”.

That should calm some nerves.

There is set to be some serious soul-searching across Labour this week: John Healey left his role as Defence Secretary because of a lack of funds from the Treasury…this week, he took his new job as head of the Treasury.

The people at BAE Systems have been busy. At Farnborough this week, they announced the Brontanax – a Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The idea is that this little puppy – they actually described it as a “guardian angel and an attack dog” – works alongside manned fighter jets to defend and FORCE ESCALATE.

Remember the ol’ triple lethality (with zero increase in resources or personnel)? Well, BAE is trying to crack the cheat code for the MOD so - God forbid - they don’t have to increase manning.

The Russians generously recognised our new Esteemed Leader’s first day in office with a gun salute in the Channel.

Russian frigate Neustrashimy fired a respectful volley of live rounds into international waters – presumably to mark the momentous occasion of Burnham’s premiership. British and French aircraft were scrambled to double-check whether their captain should be gripped for any misfires.

Big events from the past, covered in brief and probably inaccurately.

This week in 1956, Egypt's President - Gamal Abdel Nasser - nationalised the Suez Canal. Britain and France were not impressed.

A few months later, the two countries, alongside Israel, launched a military operation to take back control. Militarily, it actually went well. Politically? Not so much.

Under pressure from the US, Britain and France were forced to withdraw.

The Suez Crisis is widely regarded as one of the main turning points for Britain as a global power.

Just a big love-in today in this section.

Big well done to one of our new starters this week who landed our first Vehicle Maintenance Technician role. Wait, not a driver, you say? Yes, dear readers, we have expanded beyond pure driving roles (don’t worry guys, you’re still the OGs) - and we now do mechanics as well as Gas Engineer roles.

Bored of asking - they’ll love Despatches and we’ll love them.

Cheers,

Team Forces Assist

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