DEFENCE workers warned about waste and inefficiency in the sector as PM Sir Keir Starmer promised “another step up” in military spending today.

A survey of 500 GMB union members working across the industry found almost three in four felt there was waste and inefficiency in their organisation.

Issues cited included repeating jobs, poor planning, last-minute changes, unclear priorities and too many management layers.

Poor communication, lack of resources, training and staff shortages were also mentioned regularly, said the GMB, while some workers complained of the same jobs being done multiple times, parts being fitted and then removed and new or useable items being binned.

GMB national officer Matt Roberts said: “Workers on the shopfloor in our defence industry will know best how to improve productivity in their workplaces.

“The country needs a defence industry fit for the world today, so employers must take heed of these findings and help GMB members to best serve the country and our armed forces.”

Sir Keir has promised that a delayed Defence Investment Plan will be published before the Nato summit in Turkey on July 7 and says it will mark “another step up” in military spending.

Publication has been delayed since last year because of a stand-off within the Cabinet over costs, reports suggest.

The boost to defence spending is said to be worth more than £18 billion, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Prime Minister are reportedly considering watering down the amount over concerns it is unaffordable.

Sir Keir said that the investment plan would provide the cash for the “capability” outlined in last year’s Strategic Defence Review during a visit to a defence contractor in Wiltshire.