Labour's Jim Murphy has attacked the Tory party for refusing to guarantee the aircraft carrier contracts, threatening thousands of Scottish jobs.

When asked if he supported the carriers, the Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox dodged the question and stated that 'we’ve got to be very very unsentimental when we get to the defence review'.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister told MPs that he remained committed to aircraft carriers as part of Britain's future defence strategy.

Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland, said:

"The Tory threat to Scottish jobs keeps growing.

"Yesterday they backed the SNP and killed off the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. Today Liam Fox refuses to guarantee the carrier contracts.

"Margaret Thatcher tried and failed to end shipbuilding on the Clyde. Cameron's Tories seem committed to finishing off her work.

"The Tories are a risk Scotland can't afford."

4 February 2010