UK creating uncertainty for Scottish shipbuilding

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 22:03
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by a Newsnet reporter

Commenting on news that MoD contracts for the next generation of Royal Navy support tankers have been awarded to firms in South Korea, SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said the decision was a blow for the domestic ship-building industry and called for an end to scaremongering by Westminster politicians who have spent recent months talking down the prospects of Scottish yards post-independence.

The anti-independence parties have claimed that independence would devastate the Clyde shipbuilding yards as the Royal Navy would not enter into contracts with shipyards outside the territory of the rump-UK.  The news that the MoD has awarded Royal Navy contracts to companies in South Korea destroys this argument against independence.

It also emerged yesterday that the tendering process for the new support tankers began under the last Labour government.  Labour's shadow defence spokesman Jim Murphy has recently been vociferous in his claims that independence would result in a loss of orders from the Royal Navy to the Clyde.

SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said that the decision demonstrated that it was the Westminster government and the anti-independence parties which were creating uncertainty about the future of the Clyde yards.

Mr Robertson said:

"After months of scaremongering over the prospects for Scottish shipyard jobs post-independence, it is now clear that it is the UK, right now, that is creating uncertainty for the future of the sector.

"This tendering process began under the last Labour government, who must now explain why these massive contracts are being sent to South Korea.

"With contracts for the fast jets going to France and the Royal Navy tankers going to South Korea people will be asking where is the Union dividend?

"And with UK decisions like this we must now have an end to the constant scaremongering by Westminster politicians who continually talk-down Scotland's defence-industrial prospects."

 

Comments  

 
# Jimbo 2012-02-23 01:50
Quote:
"With contracts for the fast jets going to France and the Royal Navy tankers going to South Korea people will be asking where is the Union dividend?


Where is the Union dividend? It's alive and kicking and can be found in the SE of England.
 
 
# mealer 2012-02-23 08:48
I'm looking forward to the Scottish government bringing forward a detailed defence proposal for us to consider before we vote.We will have more jobs in a more effective defence force after independence.And for much less money than we currently send to London for them to squander on trident.
 
 
# UpSpake 2012-02-23 08:53
This far into a majority administration it is unbelievable that a comprehensive Security and Defence policy is not only affirmed but out there ?.
How else can the debate be made when only one component in the arguement has a plan ?.
 
 
# Macart 2012-02-23 09:15
Kind of blows all of the scaremongering stories for the yards out of the water, doesn't it. The beggars never intended those contracts to stay in Britain.

So either they're taking it as given that Scotland will become independent and are giving us the raspberry. In which case aren't they confident of a no vote anymore?

Or, wait for it, THEY LIED about contract preference for Scottish yards.

Either way doesn't look good for Westminster. If there are any lads from the yards scanning this site, please take note of the worth of a Westminster promise.
 
 
# SCO 2012-02-23 20:40
Problem is this wont make The Scottish media never mind The Daily Record.

If it does make the Record i would imagine it would read:

The seperatist SNP party force westminister to give contract to South Korea, as Westminister is uncertain of Scotlands future. Seperatists deny Scots (oh Sorry) British jobs.

Ticks all the unionist boxes the word seperatists in there, tick. Scotlands future uncertain, tick. The word Britain used, Tick.
 
 
# Macart 2012-02-23 21:07
Wouldn't surprise me in the least sco. Apparently a number of British firms were part of the tender but didn't make the final cut. The one that puzzles me is the fast jet tender. Leading aircraft in the field in the west are meant to be the F35 and the Typhoon. Still not a sniff for the typhoon.
 
 
# Legerwood 2012-02-23 22:28
There appears to be a problem with the replacement for the Harrier. the plane being developed is a joint venture with the USA and apparently it keeps failing when they try to land it on a carrier so may need a major re-design.

telegraph.co.uk/.../...
 
 
# Macart 2012-02-24 07:32
Cheers Legerwood.
 
 
# RTP 2012-02-23 09:47
Tongue in cheek,but on another thread I suggested Lamont and Baker might be asked to source the steel for the building of these ships as they seem to know it all about steel.
 
 
# Macart 2012-02-23 10:01
Heh, nice one! :)
 
 
# Annickburn 2012-02-23 18:06
Quoting RTP:
Tongue in cheek,but on another thread I suggested Lamont and Baker might be asked to source the steel for the building of these ships as they seem to know it all about steel.

Lol so true! Amazing what a few days can bring in the world of Politics!
 
 
# bringiton 2012-02-23 11:41
Last time I looked,the City of London didn't have much in the way of manufacturing capability.I could understand the contract going to another EU country but this looks like a straight "value for money" decision.
No doubt the South Koreans are allowed to subsidise their ship building industry.
 
 
# Hing em high 2012-02-23 21:30
It wouldnt suprise me but then it is not so long ago that the S.Korean State owned Oil Company swallowed up Aberdeen based Dana Petroleum. Nothing like the free market eh?
 
 
# rodmac 2012-02-23 12:43
A tale of two contracts!

.../a-tale-of-two-contracts
 
 
# cokynutjoe 2012-02-23 14:41
If BAE close Portsmouth and retain the Clyde yards as is likely, England will no longer have the capability of building surface warships
 
 
# 357ms 2012-02-23 18:04
Er, BAE did not bid for the contract.

I'll say again, BAE did not bid for the contract.

Nothing to do with "Westminster" or "the Union", just straightforward economics.

BAE DID NOT BID FOR THE CONTRACT.
 
 
# proudscot 2012-02-24 00:39
Quoting 357ms:
Er, BAE did not bid for the contract.

I'll say again, BAE did not bid for the contract.

Nothing to do with "Westminster" or "the Union", just straightforward economics.

BAE DID NOT BID FOR THE CONTRACT.


Yes, I think you made your point, 357 - just like Dalzell Steel did not bid for the new Forth Bridge contract, unlike the claims of McMahon and Lamont.

I'll say it again, Dalzell Steel did not bid for the Bridge contract.

Nothing to do with the SNP or "denying jobs to Scottish workers" just straightforward economics.

DALZELL STEEL DID NOT BID FOR THE BRIDGE CONTRACT.

Just thought I'd make the point in the same manic repetitive manner as you. Feel free to forward a copy to McMahon and Lamont.
 
 
# Macart 2012-02-24 07:38
I don't think cokynutjoe did say BAE were involved in the tender. I believe he was merely suggesting a scenario related to topic. But according to the BEEB there were British firms involved in the tender for the building of the ships. Being British didn't help much.
 
 
# SCO 2012-02-23 20:31
The UK government could not afford new ships even if they wanted to.

They are building ships that have no aircraft to go on them, why would they build anymore on the Clyde in the near future (next 10 years).
 
 
# mato21 2012-02-23 20:58
Apparently the labour party scuppered the last UK tender for the 4 tankers prior to leaving office Someone will be able to flesh out the details
 
 
# clootie 2012-02-23 21:23
A Labour strategist dies and finds himself at the Pearly Gates. The strategist is taken inside Heaven by St. Peter and given a guided tour. He's led into one huge room that is full of millions of clocks, and he notices a clock with his name on it that has stopped. St. Peter explains that everyone has a clock that counts down the seconds of their life, and when someone dies, their clock stops. All this fascinates the strategist but when he examines all of the other clocks, he notices that some of the clocks' second hands are moving faster than others. St. Peter explains that every time someone tells a lie, which is a sin, they lose part of their life, so their clock's second hand ends up moving faster. The Labour strategist looks around but doesn't see Gordon Brown's clock, so he asks St. Peter where it is. "Oh," answers St. Peter, "that's being used as a ceiling fan."
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-24 01:15
ROFLMAO! :D
 
 
# Macart 2012-02-24 07:48
:D
 
 
# gopher3 2012-02-23 22:12
Call me dave's clock will be turning like Helicopter Rotors.
 
 
# cokynutjoe 2012-02-24 00:59
Tankers are things the Clyde gave up building years ago, basically a box with an engine, what length would you like sir? the Far East specialised in them.
 
 
# pictic-1 2012-02-24 13:39
My posts sometimes seem to disappear into thin air ...... so I'll try again.

Found this one while cruising the UK papers and if it's true Lamont, Ruthie the con, Moore and Cameroon have to come up with a lot of answers and wee Alec should be having a field day. Couldn't find any other reports anywhere.

dailymail.co.uk/.../...

[Until you have been moved onto post- moderation, your posts need to be checked by a moderator, before they appear. NNS Mod Team]
 
 
# Arbroath1320 2012-02-25 12:20
pictic, I posted up some links last night and one of them was from the Hootsmon.

scotsman.com/.../...


Just more fuel to add to the "where's the defence dividend for Scotland" argument?

It certainly is not coming from the MOD that is for sure. Thanks to this story I don't think the unionists have a leg to stand on hen they try and make any point about an Independent Scotland!
 
 
# Caadfael 2012-02-25 12:07
I posted this in facebook in a reply:- Time to haul out those old Liberty Ship plans for a swift revision! 42 days, DAMN thats going some! Series T2 tankers, expanded and upgraded but then,as someone once said, "We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job."
Given modern techniques in welding, positioning equipment, computer guidance for various bits of kit etc we could, with a will beat this! (the record was 33 days!!)
2 major stumbling blocks however, brainless politicians at wastemonster and obstructive unions.
 

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