Defense companies feel the love at Labour conference

However, as Watkins observed, its place in mainstream politics has now given way to a new “consensus” among Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK that “the U.K. should be stepping back from global leadership on poverty reduction.”

Defense on the march

The contrast with the mood among defense suppliers — who have at times been regarded with suspicion in Labour circles — could hardly be more marked. 

Andrew Kinniburgh, director general of manufacturers’ body Make UK, said: “Certainly the message we get [from the government] is that defense is really at the heart of what they’re doing, and it’s probably at the front of the queue in terms of leading growth.”

A representative of an aerospace company, granted anonymity to speak freely, described the cognitive dissonance experienced by some in the industry. 

“Did I think Labour would invest in defense? Yes. Did I ever think one of our biggest export cheerleaders would be David Lammy? No.”

Lammy, until recently the foreign secretary, is drawn from the “soft left” of the party, which is traditionally less hawkish and more skeptical of the arms industry — but defense is having a moment, as Labour’s quest for jobs and growth coincides with heightened external threats, particularly from Russia.