'You won it for Lancashire...and for Britain' – Starmer's message after fighter jet deal bonanza

The Prime Minister told BAE Systems workers in Lancashire that they had "beaten the world" - and secured employment for themselves for the next decade - by enabling the UK to strike a deal to supply Turkey with Typhoon fighter jets.

- by Paul Faulkner

Sir Keir Starmer visited the company's Warton plant in Fylde yesterday, less than 24 hours after travelling to Turkey to sign an agreement that will see the country purchase 20 of the UK aircraft.

The Typhoons are produced and undergo their final assembly both at Warton and the BAE site at Samlesbury, near Preston.

It is the first time an order has been placed for them since 2017 and it is believed the deal - worth up to £8bn - has saved that part of the production line at the Warton base.

Sir Keir said he wanted to make the trip to Lancashire, where hundreds of BAE staff were gathered to hear him speak, in order to offer them a "humble thank you".