Prospect deputy general secretary, Garry Graham, said in response to the government decision to hold a fresh defence review and suspend funding cuts:

“This is welcome recognition that the UK’s world-class defence industry is at breaking point over funding cuts and delays to major projects.

"Too often in the past “review” has been used as a euphemism for slashing and cutting

“While the defence review needs to consider the UK’s preparedness for new cyber security threats, this cannot be done at the expense of the armed forces and the equipment they need.

“A new review should not be used as an excuse for delaying vital defence procurement decisions, for example on the national shipbuilding strategy and building the Type 31e frigates.

“With uncertainty over Britain’s role in the world, it is even more important that we keep sovereign capability to serve our armed forces and support British defence jobs.

"Other countries see the defence sector as crucial to defending their citizens and as a key part of their industrial infrastructure- it is about time the UK did the same."