The Labour leadership frontrunner, Andy Burnham, is being urged by a Hampshire defence entrepreneur to make a strong statement about his priorities by attending this month's Farnborough International Airshow.
Andrew Barnett, managing director of Fareham-based Barnbrook Systems, says Burnham's attendance at the global showcase, which runs from 20 to 24 July, would send a clear signal that the next occupant of Number 10 is serious about national security, the economy, and UK plc.
The airshow is a critical moment in the UK's economic and defence calendar, with the government's Strategic Defence Review committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence from 2027.
Barnett, who also sits on the board of the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, has written to Burnham setting out the case for attending and has invited him to meet, an offer that will be extended to any rival candidates who emerge.
Burnham has already begun courting the business vote, but the defence sector will want to see that warmth extended to Britain's security industrial base.
The stakes for suppliers are considerable, with the UK's SMEs watching closely to see whether a new Prime Minister keeps the momentum of defence spending going.
There is precedent for prime ministerial attendance, with Sir Keir Starmer attending the airshow in 2024 and yielding £13 billion in deals for the UK aerospace industry.
This year's show is expected to be the biggest yet, with record visitor numbers forecast and a notably strong showing from defence companies.
Barnbrook Systems will exhibit for the 16th consecutive time, showcasing new and upgraded technology and services, including Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) technology and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) work.
The firm specialises in supply solutions for engine controls and flight actuators on fighter aircraft, as well as temperature monitors and rotary variable differential transformers.
Barnbrook, which holds both Federal Aviation Administration and Civil Aviation Authority accreditations, recently landed a seven-figure, ten-year contract to supply and maintain relays on Rolls-Royce marine engines.
The company's BlueCube-enabled IIoT refuelling switches for Leonardo helicopters have transformed the safety and efficiency of inflight refuelling, and it will also demonstrate its E:BAG fire suppression system for lithium-ion battery fires.
With almost 50 staff and offices in the United States and Europe, the Fareham firm punches well above its weight as both prime contractor and subcontractor to multinationals, the UK MOD, and overseas governments.
For Barnett, the calculation is simple: in an unstable world, showing up matters, and the next Prime Minister's attendance at the airshow would be a crucial statement of intent.
