SOUTH West Wiltshire MP and former Defence Minister Dr Andrew Murrison has welcomed the Prime Minister’s £24 billion boost to defence spending.

Dr Murrison, who has clocked up 40 years in the regulars and reserves, represents an area with strong military connections.

His constituency includes the garrison town of Warminster, the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury and a big slice of the Salisbury Plain training area.

“This is very good news. Record funding will fit our Armed Forces for the challenges of the future and grow jobs across the country.

“The next step is completion of the Defence and Security Review which, together with this spending announcement, will set the course for Global Britain.”

The £24 billion boost is the largest investment in defence since the end of the Cold War and it will make the UK the biggest investor in defence in Europe and the second largest in NATO.

Plans includes a National Cyber Force, continued growth in the Fleet, an artificial intelligence centre, ringfenced research and development spending, and a Space Command centre.

All of this is projected to provide 40,000 jobs over the next four years and is the biggest defence investment for many years.