“Scotland – and East Kilbride – can be at the very heart of the UK’s transformation to a defence industry superpower,” says Joani Reid MP.
On Monday (2 June) East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid travelled to Govan shipyards in Glasgow to attend the launch of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, which outlines plans for a significant increase in the size of the UK’s armed forces and for spending on defence.
“With Putin in Ukraine and Trump in the White House the world has changed,” says Reid.
“And the UK’s defence posture needs to change too. We need to recognise the threat from Russian imperialist aggression and strengthen our alliances in Europe and not just expect the United States to pick up the pieces, “ she added.
“The uplift in defence spending is a huge opportunity for Scotland and for towns with an engineering pedigree like East Kilbride.
“The defence needs of the future won’t just be about big iron, but also the electronic components, computer code, and tools that go into offensive and defensive weapons. Towns like ours can be at the forefront of winning this new business.
“I was really pleased to be invited to the launch of the review. I am determined to do all I can to see the jobs and investment the review signalled come to East Kilbride and the surrounding area, “ she concluded.
