The Scottish Parliament has debated the future of Scotland’s exports, with Conservative and Labour MSPs pressing the government to acknowledge the role of defence contracts, including the landmark £10 billion Type 26 frigate deal with Norway.
Murdo Fraser (Con, Mid Scotland and Fife) argued that the Scottish Government’s latest trade strategy overlooked key sectors, despite what he called “remarkable good news” for shipbuilding and defence exports. He pointed to the BAE Systems contract that will support thousands of jobs in Glasgow and supply chains across Scotland.
Fraser added that Babcock’s Rosyth yard is competing for a £1 billion contract to build frigates for Denmark, describing it as evidence of Scotland’s naval expertise. “That is a real tribute to the expertise in naval vessel construction that we have established in Scotland,” he said.
Labour’s Daniel Johnson echoed that point, urging government support for Babcock’s Danish bid. Paul Sweeney (Lab, Glasgow) pressed the SNP on what he described as a lack of engagement with the UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, despite Scotland hosting the bulk of the industry.
Stephen Kerr (Con, Central Scotland) celebrated the Norway deal, claiming it vindicated UK policy. “It will sustain more than 1,200 jobs directly and thousands more in the supply chain,” he said. “Critics scoffed at the national shipbuilding strategy when it was launched, but today those critics owe an apology to the men and women on the Clyde.”
Kerr also highlighted the international interest in the Type 31 design being built at Rosyth, pointing to sales to Canada and Australia worth more than £1 billion. He accused the Scottish Government of being reluctant to praise the sector. “SNP members cannot bring themselves to celebrate Scotland’s successes in the sector for ideological reasons,” he told MSPs.
Richard Lochhead, Minister for Business and Employment, rejected that charge, noting that the Scottish Government had provided over £90 million in support to the defence sector since 2007. He insisted the industry was recognised as an important contributor to the economy.
The debate also touched on wider trade challenges. Fraser warned that onshore exports had fallen by 12 per cent between 2018 and 2022, contrasting this with growth in global trade. He also pointed to tariffs on whisky in the United States and argued that leaving the UK single market to rejoin the EU would damage Scottish exporters.
For Fraser, the central omission was clear: “I fear that, once again, student politics is at play, rather than any serious recognition of the Scottish economy’s strengths.”
There’s more on this site about the SNP than in The National.
There’s obviously not.
“ Kerr also highlighted the international interest in the Type 31 design being built at Rosyth, pointing to sales to Canada and Australia worth more than £1 billion.”
Is that a typo or misspeak for T26?
It is another example of SNP maths.
“We were promised 13 frigates and we have been betrayed with 8 x T26 + 5 x T31. The betrayal has been compounded as 5 x T26 have been ordered for Norway
Our betrayal has been amplified by these ships not being orders from the world class warship yard at Fergusons where we have unique skills, along with CMAL, in project management and delivery that would have made BSL proud. What other yard could deliver ships years late and four times over budget?
When £10Bn of exports isn’t via our yard there can be no advantage to the representatives of the Scottish people….”