Minister confirms u-turn on navy aircraft plans

The government has changed its mind over the type of fighter planes it is ordering for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the F35C had hit development problems and it would be cheaper in the long term to order F35B jump jets, as originally planned by Labour.

The cost of the U-turn will be at least £50m, he revealed.

Labour said it was an "omnishambles" which risked "international ridicule".