Anger as David Cameron snubs Scots on carrier project

Published on Wednesday 15 September 2010 18:34

PRIME Minister David Cameron has refused to meet workers and MPs about the threat to the £5.2 billion aircraft carrier project.

The carriers, which underpin the future of shipbuilding in Scotland, are believed to be under threat as a result of the ongoing strategic defence review (SDR).

Mr Cameron was challenged to meet Scottish MPs and unions about the project, which support up to 10,000 Scottish jobs, during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday by Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Tom Greatrex.

However, Mr Cameron said he would not hold a meeting.

He added: "Of all the budgets I have looked at this is the one that was in the biggest mess."

He said there was 38bn over- committed in the MoD and decisions had been made by the last Labour government "which made no sense at all."

During the election, Labour had vowed to guarantee the carrier projects.

Afterwards, Mr Greatrex said: "It is an outrage that the Prime Minister has snubbed the proud workforce on the yards across Scotland, in the supply companies across the UK, and all their families."

The SNP government at Holyrood is attempting to win cross-party support for a campaign to retain the project on the Clyde.