SNP accused of ‘hypocrisy' after Ferguson wins warship deal

The Herald Scotland

09-07-2025

The planned £11 million facility by Rolls-Royce and the Malin Group at the Scottish Marine Technology Park in Clydebank almost collapsed because Scottish Enterprise was unable to provide a £2.5m support grant.
When asked about the decision last month, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said it was about principles.
'I think the key difference between ourselves and the UK Government is that, when we have principles, we stick to them,' she told the BBC.
The Tories accused the SNP of "hypocrisy on stilts."
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HMS Birmingham is currently under construction at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard in Glasgow. It is the first ship to be built under a £4.2 billion contract secured by the firm to deliver five warships.
Ferguson's will fabricate three structural units for the ship.
The Type 26 is designed for anti-submarine warfare and high-intensity air defence.
In its press release, Ferguson Marine said the vessel would 'provide the Royal Navy with the most advanced anti-submarine warfare capability available'.
BAE won a £4.2bn contract to build five warships (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
The announcement is a rare spot of good news for the yard, whose reputation has been tarnished by problems over two long-delayed ferries.
The Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa were first ordered in 2015 and were due to be ready in 2018. While the former launched this year, the latter is unlikely to be in the water before 2026.
Both were expected to cost £97 million; the final bill is now likely to be close to £460m.
Last week, Holyrood's Public Audit Committee issued a scathing report into Ferguson's, highlighting failures of leadership, board instability, inadequate internal audits, serious weaknesses in contractor oversight, and governance failures around exit packages for senior staff.
It said urgent investment was needed to ensure Ferguson Marine could be competitive once again.
Scottish Labour Economy, Business and Fair Work spokesperson Daniel Johnson said it was welcome that the troubled yard had secured the contract.
He said: 'SNP ministers have a habit of rushing down to Port Glasgow for a photo-op, but any crowing from them about this would be the height of hypocrisy.
'Their student union politics on defence has put good, skilled jobs at risk in Scotland. But as we saw last month, if the SNP will not step up to support skills and jobs in Scotland, then Labour will.'
Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr said it was "hypocrisy on stilts from the SNP."
He added: "They have been at pains to defend their reckless decision not to award funding for a new welding centre, yet nationalised Ferguson Marine has now won this major contract.
"They are clearly more interested in virtue signalling rather than having a coherent policy for Scotland's defence sector.
"SNP ministers should urgently come clean as to whether this contract finally signals a shift in policy at such an uncertain time in the world."
At last month's NATO summit, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer committed the UK to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said she hoped Ferguson Marine would benefit from the increase in defence spending.
'Perhaps now is also the time for SNP ministers to reconsider their confused stance on matters of national security and support for the defence industry in Scotland. As the UK builds up its defences after years of Conservative neglect, there will be opportunities for Scottish firms and Scottish workers.
'The Scottish Government will need to focus on creating the right environment for jobs and investment, as well as tackling obstacles that could otherwise dampen those opportunities.'
Ferguson Marine said it expected steel cutting to commence imminently 'as the shipyard stands ready to commence manufacturing'.
Ferguson's has not had its troubles to seek in recent years (Image: Newsquest)
Graeme Thomson, CEO of Ferguson Marine, said: 'This contract is a significant step for Ferguson Marine and will enable us to play a role in enhancing the UK's world-class maritime capability.
'In recent years Ferguson Marine has been working with BAE Systems, and as the last commercial shipbuilder on the Clyde, we are uniquely positioned to act as an extension of the important work happening under the Type 26 programme.
'As we seek to add to our book of orders, this proves the ability of our skilled workforce to secure new business. We are committed to expanding our experience, with this representing an important opportunity to grow the skill of the younger members of our workforce, to win future commercial contracts in this and related markets.'
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Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes welcomed the news of the contract. She said: 'This contract award is a positive demonstration of the shipyard's capabilities, skills and ability to win work in a commercial playing field, and most importantly, the workers at Ferguson Marine.
'The Scottish Government's decision to take Ferguson Marine into public ownership saved the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde and we continue to ensure the long-term future of the Yard and the workforce, with investment of up to £14.2 million in the yard over the next two years in order to help it modernise and secure further future business.
'Securing new business for the Ferguson Marine Yard has always been vital for the Scottish Government, which is why this contract is so welcome. I sincerely hope that the business's future commercial strategy, which is being spearheaded by a new CEO, will enable Ferguson Marine to win new business in its target markets.'