Shadow Scots Secretary Jim Murphy today challenged Michael Moore to do his jobs and fight for the aircraft carrier contracts on the Clyde and Rosyth.

Mr Murphy is tabling a series of parliamentary questions to find out what information Mr Moore knew before BAE System's evidence to the Defence Select Committee yesterday.

Jim Murphy MP said:

"Michael Moore faces a choice. Either he supports Scotland's historic shipbuilding industry, or he supports the Tories' plans to destroy it.

"His job is to be Scotland's voice in Cabinet.

"There is a huge support in Scotland for the carriers and the thousands of jobs they sustain.

"He now has to persuade, argue, cajole and convince his colleagues of the vital importance of keeping these contracts alive.

"I appeal to him - don't put Scotland's historic shipbuilding industry on life support on his watch.

"The carriers are being built now, being worked on today, and there is no reason why they should not be delivered to the Ministry of Defence for our use around the world.

"The Clyde and Rosyth have stood up to the Tories before and will do so again.

"The case on jobs, defence, and the strategic need for Britian to keep its shipbuilding industry is unanswerable and it is Michael Moore's job to make it."

Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife Thomas Docherty added:

"My message to Michael Moore is simple: do your job to protect 10,000 others'."

9 September 2010