Lighting jets deal ‘may be halved to 70’
CUTS Formidable F-35b jet
BRITAIN may halve its original demand for 138 F-35B Lightning II fighter jets due to defence cuts.
The US-built short takeoff, vertical landing jets will fly from the UK’s two new aircraft carriers.
We will pay £9.1billion for 48 in the next five years under current agreements.
In the 2015 defence review it was confirmed 138 were wanted but a new review is expected to scrap the figure.
It is now possible just 70 of the jets will be bought due to the increasing cost of defending the UK.
A senior defence source said: “The guiding principle is to ask what the threat is, and whether we have capability to meet it.”
The Government declined to “speculate”.
Meghan and feminist Gloria Steinem
THE Duchess of Sussex has a laugh with feminist activist Gloria Steinem as they discuss the importance of voting ahead of November’s US presidential election.
Meghan says to Ms Steinem, 86, in a preview of the interview: “People forget how hard women like you and so many others before you fought for us to just be where we are right now.”
After Ms Steinem shares her fears about young people not voting, Meghan, 39, asks: “Do you feel hopeful?”
The feminist and journalist tells Meghan: “If you don’t vote, you don’t exist,” adding that the voting booth is the only place where everyone is equal.
The pair sat with Meghan’s black Labrador Pula and rescue beagle Guy to film the “backyard chat” for Makers Women, a women’s empowerment media brand and charity.
GRIN Meghan in interview film