John Healey comments on resumption of Ajax armoured vehicle payments

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to a government statement confirming payments are resuming for the Ajax armoured vehicle which won’t now be fully delivered until the end of this decade, said:

“The Conservatives are shelling out billions more of taxpayers’ money on a project which is already six years late and won’t fully deliver until the end of this decade.

“The Defence Secretary has made Ajax central to the future of the Army and the UK’s ability to fulfil our NATO obligations, yet after 13 years and £4bn investment the Army has still not got a single deployable vehicle. 

“It is clear the government can’t deliver value for public money or the equipment our forces need to fight. Ministers are failing British taxpayers and British troops.”