Gotta keep GKN/WHL/AugustaWestland/whateverthey'recalled this month in business to keep supporting all of those (cough) Westland Apaches the British army is still trying to get to work properly.
Seriously, is it really that controversial that any government, so long as it doesn't end up too much out of pocket doing so, will try and support it's own defence industry? One could certainly argue that HMG's track record of doing so is somewhat chequered, but the principle of trying to do so is hardly odd.
G