Speaking following evidence to the Defence Select Committee in the House of Commons from Ian King of BAE Systems to the effect that the Ministry of Defence has asked for prices for cancelling the entire aircraft carrier programme, as well as for building only one of the carriers, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said:
 
“For all their denials, it is now exposed that the Tories are actively looking at cancelling the whole project – not just one ship, but both.
 
“It is increasingly clear that the Tories want to do to shipbuilding on the Clyde and in Rosyth what they did to the steel industry in Scotland.
 
“Labour made clear we would build two aircraft carriers. We signed the contracts and cut the steel and up to 4,000 men and women in skilled jobs are now working on the ships.
 
“This is a betrayal of the proud and loyal workforce.
 
The price of cancelling the carriers is massive job losses and misery.
 
“The Clyde has faced threats from the Tories before by the Clyde has always won.
 
“Liam Fox could relieve a lot of worried families tonight by doing as Labour did and guaranteeing the carriers.”

8 September 2010