Keir Starmer promises to build warships in Scotland in boost ‘for generations'
'BUILDING THE FUTURE' Keir Starmer promises to build warships in Scotland in boost 'for generations'
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LABOUR will secure Scots shipbuilding's future 'for generations to come', the PM will announce on Monday.
We can reveal Sir Keir Starmer will commit the UK Government to constructing warships here.
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Sir Keir Starmer has promised to build warships in Scotland
Credit: Alamy
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The Prime Minister said his plans will boost jobs and investment along the River Clyde
Credit: Alamy
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Sir Keir Starmer said, 'Scotland is the beating heart of the UK's shipbuilding industry'
Credit: AP
The 'always on' supply line will boost jobs and investment along the Clyde.
The Labour leader will visit Glasgow on Monday with Defence Secretary John Healey to outline plans to spend three per cent of GDP on defence within a decade as part of a strategic review.
He promised Scotland would see a 'defence dividend' from the major increase in investment in the Armed Forces.
On Sunday, Sir Keir said: 'Scotland is the beating heart of the United Kingdom's shipbuilding industry.
'For over a century, workers on the Clyde and Rosyth have been the backbone of Britain's maritime strength.
'Scottish shipbuilding backs thousands of secure, well-paid jobs.
"But people aren't just building ships, they're building the future strength of the Royal Navy and national security.'
He added: 'Through the Strategic Defence Review, our UK Labour government is backing the Scottish shipbuilding industry for generations to come.
"Scotland will see a defence dividend from our record investment.'
The SDR also commits the MoD to 'create conditions for sustained innovation and industrial support to the Navy'.
Douglas Ross kicked out of FMQs for rowdy behaviour
The UK Government has already committed £41billion to build four Dreadnought-class nuclear subs — with Faslane expected to maintain them.
Last week, the first Type 31 frigate was unveiled at Babcock's yard at Rosyth in Fife.
And the first Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow, was named by the Princess of Wales at BAE Systems' Scotstoun yard in Glasgow last month.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'We are yet to see the detail of the Spending Review, but given Scotland's significant naval shipbuilding expertise, we would expect that any future contracts will provide a substantial contribution to our economy.
'Historically SMEs in Scotland receive one of the lowest proportions of defence spending in the UK (under two per cent compared to almost 13 per cent in the North East).
"It is vital the UK Government follows through on its commitment to reform defence procurement so that more Scottish SMEs can successfully bid for defence contracts.
'We are committed to ensuring Scotland is the home of manufacturing innovation, but our long-standing position is that we do not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions.'
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