Politicians unite to save carriers work

Politicians from across the ideological spectrum were meeting in Edinburgh today to discuss a joint submission to the UK defence review amid fears over the future of the £5 billion aircraft carrier contract which is vital to jobs at Rosyth and on the Clyde.

It was revealed yesterday that more than 100 contracts totalling around 1.25bn have already been awarded towards the construction of the two carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

But last week BAE Systems chief executive Sir Ian King told the Commons Defence Select Committee that the company was asked to consider a number of options ranging from "one carrier to no carriers".

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was chairing today's meeting, which is aimed at submitting a cross-party case to Defence Secretary Liam Fox on behalf of Scotland ahead of the Strategic Defence Review.