Parties join forces to keep carriers afloat

SCOTLAND'S political parties are set to make a joint submission to the Ministry of Defence in a bid to save the threatened aircraft carriers being built at Rosyth and on the Clyde.

First Minister Alex Salmond has called a meeting with the other party leaders for Monday and says a "united Scottish front" is needed to prevent cancellation of the contract on which thousands of jobs depend.

He has proposed a joint meeting with Defence Minister Liam Fox to press the case.

Fears over the 5 billion project deepened earlier this week after BAE systems chief executive Sir Ian King told a Commons committee the company had been asked to consider options ranging from "one carrier to no carrier".

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said yesterday he could give "no guarantees" ahead of the Strategic Defence Review due at the end of next month.