In Defence-related news, The Times front page includes a small report that Al-Qaeda has been gathering its strength and is plotting attacks against Britain as Daesh comes under pressure while The Daily Mail front page heavily features an image of a young Syrian girl ‘who shames world over Aleppo bloodbath’ as she holds a sign that reads: Please Assad, Putin, Stop the bombing.
SUCCESSOR SUBMARINES
This morning, there is coverage from the Secretary of State’s visit to BAE Systems, where he conducted a ceremonial steel cut to mark the beginning of the programme and the MOD’s £1.3 billion investment. You can read more about the investment here.
The Express, The Times, The Daily Mail, all include comments made by the Defence Secretary during his visit to BAE Systems as he said it would have been preferable for BAE Systems to have bought British steel for the hull but no British company was producing the type of steel needed when bids were taken for the contract.
The Telegraph reports that the Defence Secretary warned the new nuclear submarine programme 'cannot be late because the Vanguard submarines are coming to the end of their working life'. As he started the machine to cut the first steel for the 17,000-tonne Successor submarines, it is also noted that the Defence Secretary was 'throwing down the gauntlet' to industry.
AL-QAEDA
The Times reports that a resurgent al-Qaeda is plotting attacks against Britain with renewed vigor as Daesh comes under pressure, according to unnamed Whitehall sources. The piece also notes comments made by the Defence Secretary that the terrorist network poses a 'very direct threat' to the UK and Europe.
While speaking to the paper, the Defence Secretary also added that the threat from extremist groups was exactly why the UK is fully committed to supporting the Afghan armed forces as well as taking the fight to Daesh in Syria and Iraq.
ARMY LEGAL CLAIMS
Across the coverage of the Prime Minister’s speech in Birmingham, there widespread pick up of her comments that Britain will never again allow its soldiers to be 'harangued and harassed by left-wing human rights lawyers'.
In her speech, she pledged to protect the 'bravest of the brave' against post-conflict witch-hunts and praised the work of the Defence Secretary, saying he had proved that the 'finest Armed Forces known to man' would be supported with 'our hearts and souls'.
You can read more about what the Government is doing to protect the Armed Forces from persistent legal claims here.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
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