Scot Gov resumes attendance at shipbuilding events

The Scottish Government has taken steps to address criticisms of its previous absences from key shipbuilding milestones, resuming ministerial attendance at high-profile events.

Most recently, Minister for Business Richard Lochhead represented the government at the steel-cutting ceremony for HMS Sheffield, the fifth Type 26 frigate, held at BAE Systems’ Govan yard.

This marks a notable shift following a series of missed appearances at earlier events, including the steel-cutting ceremony for HMS Formidable in Rosyth and HMS Birmingham in Govan, both significant milestones in Scotland’s naval shipbuilding legacy.

The increased engagement comes after mounting criticism from industry figures and political commentators over the lack of ministerial representation at such events.

In October, the absence of any minister at the HMS Formidable ceremony drew sharp criticism from industry insiders and commentators. As reported earlier, administrative delays and staff illness were cited as reasons for the missed attendance, with internal emails revealing regret among officials. One email read:

“There was a breakdown in communication (me!) internally when this invite was processed. I’ve been off for the last few weeks with [REDACTED], and so the ministers’ offices were chasing the invite but there was no one further down the chain to pick up in my absence. So please accept my own apologies for that.”

Critics, however, questioned whether logistical issues alone accounted for the pattern of absences, with some suggesting political sensitivities surrounding UK Government-funded defence programmes may have played a role.

An industry insider had previously voiced frustration:

“When ministers don’t show up, it sends the wrong message to the industry and to the thousands of workers who contribute to these projects. We’re not asking for much—just a recognition of the hard work and commitment that goes into building these vessels and sustaining Scotland’s place on the world stage.”

Ministerial briefings ahead of the event highlighted the critical economic contributions of shipbuilding to Scotland and the UK. An internal email described the £8 billion Type 26 programme as a “significant economic driver,” supporting over 1,700 jobs in Glasgow and 2,300 more across the UK supply chain.

Another briefing reinforced the importance of events like the steel cutting as an opportunity to showcase Scotland’s contributions:

“The Type 26 programme has become an international export success story, with Australia and Canada selecting the design for their own anti-submarine frigate programmes. Events like these demonstrate Scotland’s engineering expertise on the global stage.”

While the renewed attendance is a welcome change, it also raises questions about how political considerations influence ministerial engagement with defence-related projects. Critics have long speculated that the Scottish Government’s stance on independence may create discomfort around programmes funded and promoted by the UK Government.

However, recent correspondence suggests logistical challenges, rather than political motivations, have been the primary driver behind previous absences. As one official noted after the HMS Birmingham event:

“Due to pre-existing commitments, the Cabinet Secretary is unable to attend. However, he has asked me to pass on his best wishes for a successful event.”

With significant investments continuing in Scotland’s shipyards, including BAE Systems’ £300 million modernisation of its Govan and Scotstoun facilities, the sector remains a vital part of both Scotland’s and the UK’s economies. The question now is whether this renewed engagement marks the start of a consistent approach to recognising Scotland’s role in UK defence projects.