The debate on the defence ministry’s wish to buy two test-phase JSF fighter jets will continue on Thursday following Labour MPs’ refusal to back the plan.

Labour’s opt-out means there is now a parliamentary majority against the JSF and a sharp division between the coalition parties. The two Christian coalition partners back the JSF.
Labour parliamentary party leader Mariëtte Hamer said on Wednesday afternoon the party is not convinced the American-backed JSF is the best replacement for the armed forces’ aging F16s.
‘We want to make sure we do not get sucked into a billion euro project’ which may later turn out to have been the wrong decision, Hamer was reported as saying.
Junior defence minister Jack de Vries wants to sign the contract for two test planes before the end of this month. He says agreement to buy the JSF test planes is part of the 2006 coalition accord.