MANUFACTURING businesses in Worcestershire are "losing jobs" when government military contracts are sent abroad said a shadow minister.

Labour's shadow minister for the armed forces, Luke Pollard MP, was in Worcester on Wednesday to highlight the party’s recently launched Homes Fit for Heroes campaign.

During his visit, Mr Pollard also said businesses in the "supply chain" in Worcestershire are losing out.

READ MORE: Shadow minister for armed forces Luke Pollard MP visits Worcester

He said: "For Labour, it is important that we make a positive case to pitch a strong defence for our country, support for Ukraine, support for our veterans and for manufacturing businesses in the area.

"That means buying more military equipment from British businesses rather than sending contracts abroad.

"We have seen recently the government sending contracts abroad like the supply ship contract for the Royal Navy that was sent to Spain when that should have gone to British shipyards.

"Although I don't think there are many shipyards in Worcestershire, you do have many businesses that feed into the supply chain.

"When that contract goes abroad, it is not only the shipyards that lose out, but the manufacturing businesses that might make a small part that goes into a bigger part that goes into the ship ultimately, and that means we lose out on jobs"

QinetiQ, based in Malvern, is a security and defence contractor that has worked closely with the ministry of defence.

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “I am in regular contact with QinetiQ and I am pleased that the Malvern site is one of the successful, growing parts of its business.

“Although the company’s heritage is in defence research, it is now at the cutting edge of the cyber and space sectors and has diversified away from a single Ministry of Defence customer.

READ MORE: Upton man banned from driving after using phone on M42

QinetiQ have locations in the UK, the USA, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Abu Dhabi and Sweden

The minister was visiting to support Tom Collins, who is the Labour party parliamentary candidate for Worcester.

Former city councillor Tom Collins was selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Worcester by party members at a meeting on Sunday (December 11).

We have contacted QinetiQ for more information.