Scottish Labour have today called on Scottish Secretary Michael Moore to ‘stand up for Scotland’ and safeguard Scottish defence jobs.

The call comes as an internal rift broke out between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury over the extent to which defence chiefs must take into account the effect swingeing cuts expected in the autumn will have on local communities.

It has also since emerged that up to 10,000 Clyde shipyard jobs could be jeopardised if plans to build Britain’s biggest-ever warships are axed as part of the UK Governments Strategic Defence Review. 
 
So far nothing has been ruled out and the MoD and Treasury have both warned of ‘tough decisions’ to come.  
 
Labour MP for Glasgow South West Ian Davidson MP whose constituency covers the Govan shipyard said:
 
”Scrapping the aircraft carriers would Con-Dem the Royal Navy to be nothing more than an expanded coastal defence force and would devastate not only the shipyards but also thousands of highly-skilled jobs elsewhere in Scotland. 
 
”Destroying the Navy, the Clyde yards and thousands of jobs is not a price worth paying.

”The Secretary of State for Scotland must step in to stop this damaging speculation and tell us that all is well or stand aside for someone else.”

Pauline McNeil MSP for Glasgow Kelvin whose constituency covers the Scotstoun shipyard said: 

"So far nothing has been ruled out and it is becoming increasingly clear the Strategic Defence Review is an excuse for savage cuts.
 
“What the Tories and Lib Dems need to realise when they are wielding the axe is that these are people’s jobs and lives we are talking about. 
 
”The coalition Government cannot afford to be short-termist, if shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde are cut today then the skills are lost for forever.
 
"I urge Michael Moore to have the courage to the stand up for Scotland and safeguard Scotland's defence jobs. If he doesn’t I fear the consequences could be disastrous for communities across Scotland for years to come.”

27 July 2010