SNP RAISE CLYDE CLOSURE CONCERNS IN COMMONS

The SNP has demanded an urgent Commons statement on the future of thousands of shipbuilding jobs after a leaked memo revealed apparent plans to close two yards.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP used a Point of Order to call on the UK Government to come clean over reports that the Ministry of Defence is set to finance redundancies.

Mr Robertson said:

“The future of thousands of shipyard jobs have been thrown into doubt and Gordon Brown himself must end this intolerable uncertainty right now.

“These revelations, and the way they have been disclosed, are a slap in the face for a workforce who deserve much better treatment.

“It would be grossly irresponsible to throw away the shipbuilding expertise which has been built up over generations on the Clyde, and the UK government must come clean on any plans that threaten the future of these yards.

“Scottish yards have a first class record of delivery, committed workforce and excellent facilities and Labour cannot be allowed to sell it down the river.”