BAE Systems is streamlining management and cutting almost 2,000 aerospace and maritime jobs in the UK as part of a sweeping restructuring to adapt to a dearth of fighter jet orders and rising competition.
Unions and politicians called on the government to act to prevent job losses at the UKs largest defence contractor and one of its biggest manufacturers.
But the government rejected the call and said it would be wrong to interfere in an internal restructuring designed to improve efficiency. Claire Perry, business minister, rejected suggestions by MPs in the House of Commons that the job losses were a result of defence spending cutbacks and poorly planned procurement of weapon systems.