A new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the UK defence supply chain was launched by the MP for Swindon North, Swindon24 reported on Tuesday 28 April 2026. Will Stone was to chair the group.
What the group was set up to do
- Bring MPs and peers from different parties together to look at weaknesses in defence manufacturing and procurement.
- Identify ways to give better support to domestic industry.
- Hold roundtables through the year with businesses, policymakers and sector specialists.
- Produce an annual report with findings and recommendations for the government.
Make UK, a manufacturing body that represents more than 900 companies, was to act as the group's secretariat and co-ordinate the roundtables.
Mr Stone said he wanted practical results and did not want the group to be "another talking shop".
Kelly Madison, UK Membership Director at Make UK Defence, said the group would strengthen links between industry and Parliament.
Why it matters in Swindon
Swindon24 said the launch fitted Mr Stone's wider focus on defence and advanced manufacturing, which included promoting Swindon as a centre for uncrewed systems.
Source: Swindon24.