Government betrayal to allow Fleet Support Ship contract to go overseas
Prospect have condemned plans by the government to allow the construction of the Fleet Solid Support Ships to support Royal Navy operations to be sent overseas.
The Fleet Solid Support Ships will replace these Fort Class vessels (Image: Brian Burnell CC:BY-SA)
Garry Graham, Prospect deputy general secretary said:
“At a time when the economic priority should be saving jobs and protecting communities – it is a betrayal that the government has deliberately opened the door to thousands of secure highly skilled jobs being sent overseas.
“This decision is economically illiterate and, if the work goes abroad, undermines our sovereign defence capacity and capability. No other government in an advanced economy would make this decision which is so pivotal to our defence posture over the coming decade.
“This government likes to talk tough on defence and laud its commitment to the “levelling” up agenda and being a government of “all the nations”. Amongst shipbuilding and manufacturing communities across the UK this decision will be seen as a betrayal of their history and their future.
“The government has tried to evade scrutiny while parliament is in recess, it is essential that MPs haul ministers into the House for questioning as soon as they return to Westminster.”
