UNITE has demanded the Tory government stop dithering over its pledges to protect manufacturing in Britain as arms giant BAE yesterday announced it was to axe up to 371 jobs.

BAE said the vast majority of the job losses would be among its 13,000-strong workforce in Samlesbury, Lancashire, though some other positions would also be hit.

The firm said the decision was due to a slowing-down in production of its Typhoon fighter programme.