In addition to Peter Luff MP, Lord Astor of Hever has joined the defence team.

A former Guardsman with experience in Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Malaysia he should be another strong appointee with plenty of experience.

He was previously an opposition spokesman on defence and is President of the Motorsport Industry Association.

The UK has a vibrant and innovative motorsport industry and there is absolutely no doubt, closer links between it and the MoD should be beneficial, technology transfers have created many advances for military vehicles.

Lets hope those industry connections don’t get in the way, like the unfortunate Gerald Howarth MP, who rumour has it, is on the wrong side of an MoD revolving door because of close links with the defence industry.

Oh, hang on…

In 2007, the Motorsport Industry Association initiated the Motorsport to Defence Initiative to foster greater co-operation and develop business opportunities, here is a quote from Lord Astor;

The MIA Motorsport to Defence Programme has already delivered many new positive business opportunities for our Members in the defence sector. I am delighted that real business has been created.

In this article and this one

Last week BAE representatives met the Motorsport Industry Association to discuss how innovations in racing can benefit the defence and aerospace industry

Here

Lord Astor and Gerald Howarth MP, Shadow Spokesman for Defence in the House of Lords and House of Commons respectively attended the event and were able to gain a first hand experience of the considerable effort the industry is putting in to support the FRES programme.

See if you can spot Lord Astor at the Autosport International Show where Supacat were exhibiting in support of the MIA Motorsport to Defence initiative.

The same Supacat that are bidding for the LPPV contract that Lord Astor might have some part in awarding.

Click here to spot him

To what extent is it legitimate for politicians to have links with manufacturers or their industry associations?