Tories slam Corbyn’s ‘laughable’ Navy claims
The Conservative Party has described Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s call today for the UK to build three new ships in Glasgow as “laughable”.
James Cleverly, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “It’s laughable that Jeremy Corbyn is trying to paint himself as a defender of Britain.”
In a speech in Glasgow today Corbyn is expected to say: “Workers in British shipyards, from Plymouth to Rosyth, share a proud tradition – building the best ships in the world. But the Conservative government is trashing that tradition by offering up the Ministry of Defence’s most recent contract for three new fleet solid support ships to overseas companies to build abroad.
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“This decision is wrong. Today we are calling on the Government to guarantee that these three new ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will be built in domestic shipyards.”
Cleverly said: “Labour wouldn’t back the armed forces, have broken their promise over renewing Trident, and would turn their back on our closest allies.
“At a time when we are facing increasing threats, it is this Conservative Government that is investing in UK shipbuilding, expanding the service fleet for the first time in a generation and backing our armed forces to keep Britain safe.”
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The solid support ships are designed to carry a range of stores to support other ships with ammunition, food and explosives.
They will support the Royal Navy’s two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, the first of which is slated to come into commission later this year.
The £1bn contract is set to be open to both UK and international companies.