The Scottish Government’s decision to lift its long-standing ban on public funding for munitions production has been branded “childish” and “too little, too late” by Graeme Downie, MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, home to the Rosyth dockyard where the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates are under construction.
First Minister John Swinney announced on 3 September that the restriction would be removed in recognition of the strategic pressures created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, he confirmed that new awards of public money would be paused for defence companies linked to Israel or other states accused of genocide.
Swinney described the policy change as a response to a more dangerous world. “Defending our country – defending our continent – is a duty of government. Anyone watching the ongoing war in Ukraine would, I hope, recognise the reality of the importance of defence. Indeed, the invasion shows we live in a world in which our national security faces much greater and more immediate threats,” he said.
The reversal follows earlier controversies, including the refusal of a £2.5 million Scottish Enterprise grant for an £11 million submarine welding facility on the Clyde. That project was only kept alive after the UK Government intervened with funding.
Downie said the shift highlighted the SNP’s neglect of Scotland’s defence industrial base.
“The SNP have been in power in Scotland for almost 20 years and only just realising that defence might be important to the Scottish economy and protecting our country. It’s an absolute desperate sham. The SNP have a track record of failure when it comes to supporting workers and dismissing the importance of Scotland’s security. They failed to even recognise key milestones of the incredible achievement of Scottish workers such as the recent launch of the first Type 31 Frigate in my constituency.”
The Rosyth MP also accused the government of weakening Scotland’s skills base. “Worse than that, their childish approach to defence means they have failed to invest in skills, reducing opportunities for young people across Scotland and putting jobs at risk for the future. No one is going to buy for a second this sudden conversion from John Swinney. They know he’s only doing this cause he’s scared and realised that this UK Labour government will step up and invest in defence and invest in skills – the only party that will defend Scotland and support the critical defence workforce.”
The Scottish Government maintains that its revised approach balances support for Scotland’s defence industry with humanitarian principles, insisting that any company seeking aid must demonstrate its products are not used militarily by states accused of genocide.
Despite Trump’s public reluctance to follow through with his threats to impose sanctions on Russia, the Pentagon has been quietly reinforcing USAF assets in Europe.
1) A Bomber Task Force comprising B-1B Lancers was deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas to Ørland Air Base, Norway in July
2) A large number (over 30) USAF KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft were dispersed to various European locations in June, including Ramstein AB, Morón AB, NAS Rota in Spain, Aviano Air Base in Italy, Prestwick International Airport in the UK and Souda Bay in Greece
3) Earlier this year nuclear capable B-52H Stratofortress aircraft were deployed to Morón Air Base, Spain, as part of a Bomber Task Force deployment. Additional B-52s previously deployed to RAF Fairford have been integrating with Finnish and Swedish aircraft, involving training flights over the Baltic states
4) USAF KC-135 Stratotankers were deployed to Estonia early in August and recently more American B-1B Lancer bombers flew in formation with Hungarian and Swedish JAS-39 Gripens over Riga, Latvia. Which must have been very……..reassuring
5) Additional USAF F-35s were deployed to RAF Lakenheath, supported by KC-135 Stratotankers deployed to RAF Mildenhall in June
Apart from Trump’s decision to destroy the Iran nuclear bomb program, some of these deployments would appear to be in response to the large spring Russian/Belarus training exercise near the Kaliningrad Sulawesi Gap. Which in the event of hostilities NATO will have to seize to secure land lines of communication to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The B52H bombers have probably been deployed in response to the insane nuclear threats repeatedly issued by Putin’s lackey, the deranged alcoholic Medvedev
Seems like you are a bit confused David, the article is about ships being built in Scotland mate not Trump or strategic bombers 😀
To be fair Jim it is about confused policical objectives interfering with sound military planning. David is merely pointing out (I assume) that political rhetoric does not necessarily interfere with sound operational decisions affecting defence.
No, Jims right.
None of your comments on this site are worth reading, I gave up on them months ago. You can fcuk off.
Gutted.
The only person posting on this site who is confused is you, arsehole
‘The B52H bombers have probably been deployed in response to the insane nuclear threats repeatedly issued by Putin’s lackey, the deranged alcoholic Medvedev’
Thanks. Calling a Putin lackey a ‘deranged alcoholic’ is perhaps redundant. Doubtless he will conveniently stumble out of a tenth floor window soon having mistaken it for the drinks cabinet*.
You point is well made; Scotland is in the frontline in Cold War II whether the S.N.P. notices or not.
* Alcoholism is not really very funny as many of us know.
Navy lookout are reporting potential type 31 orders are going to be placed by Denmark and Sweden. Both are looking for upgunned versions optimised for the air defence and BMD role.
Potentially 5-6 Danish frigates and 2-3 Swedish. All to be built in the UK. That will be a huge shot in the arm for UK shipbuilding if those orders come in.
RN will be back of the line for warships unless a follow on order for more type 31s is forthcoming. I think Babcocks now proven track record of building at speed and on time is potentially being seen as a real bonus when compared to delayed and over contracted price European frigate programmes.
Fingers crossed! Agree on Babcock…never seen a UK programme move so fast…
Hi Mr Bell,
I agree that it is possible that the Danish order could be for up to 5 or 6 frigates but the article suggests that 3 will be built by Babcock and 2 or 3 more built in Denmark, although I agree that seems unlikely. The build for both Denmark and Sweden would see the ships fitted out in their respect countries so the workload is not all going to Rosyth. Babcock will still get work / income for the work being carried out in Denmark and Sweden of course.
Another interesting bit in that article was that Babcock are working on a new Corvette with SAAB for the Swedish navy and those ships could be build in Rosyth and fitted out in Sweden. Given the French FDI frigate is the front runner for the Swedish frigate program the corvette would be a very nice consolation price.
The fact that these deals will generate a lower level of work for Rosyth might leave the door open for 3 more T31 for the RN that could be fitted into the work schedule. I certainly hope so, because while the T26 for Norway and T31 for Denmark represent increased capabilities they do not increase overall frigate numbers available to eNATO and we need more frigates flying the blue NATO flag. The UK has a strong maritime history and surprisingly strong recovery in its ship building capability underway making further orders from the RN not only important for defence of the Realm but also for the continued recovery and expansion of the ship building industry and its supply chains.
That ship building renaissance is focused in regions of the country that have lagged behind when it comes to develop and investment and so there is plenty of room for growth in those communities and probably pent up demand as well so investing in these areas is likely to see a better return on investment than regions that are already doing well. Poorer areas will spend to improve their lives rather than stash away in a tax haven. So perhaps, Healey can make a good case for more RN related procurement of the back of the export success.
Finally, that National Ship Building Strategy is starting to look like one of the best documents to come out of any government appointed think tank / committee that I can think of.
Damn I hope we order another 3x T31, preferably upgraded at least with a few more VLS. That would give us 16 frigates and 6 destroyers (if they ever get HMS Daring working again!). A 24 escort fleet would be a step in the right direction, but to my mind it would only represent a starter for 10.
Cheers CR
16 Frigates and 6 Destroyers, just get’s us back to the figures envsaged when T23 were being built. Then 3 T23’s were sold and T45 seemed to have trouble leaving Portsmouth.
Then a few years ago the official talk was of “At Least 5 T31’s”, that predictably dissapeard and the 5 figure was settled on. Then came the Iconic T32 quote, again a figure of “At least 5” but so far after 4 years = Zilch (other than mentioned in fantasy fleets on here and other sites).
Now, we are all waiting for the SDR reports’ recomendations to be implemented, together with the Increase in %GDP, But, I’m not holding my breath.
Labour will no doubt be bathing in the glory of the recent orders whilst the spin will focus on the work and not the requirement for additional RN Ships.
Then again, I’m just a Halfwit.
Yup, agree with your summing up.
However, I wonder if some of the delay has been related to the negotiations around ship building exports. These are big numbers we are talking about £10b for the T26 for Norway alone add in the orders for Australia and Canada and T31 orders for Poland and Indonesia and the UK exports either for build and or supply is quite impressive. If Babcock can win the Swedish (Corvette or and T31) and Danish orders as well there will be hundreds of millions of tax revenue flowing into the Treasury for the next ten to fifteen years and that would just be the direct sales values of the build phases. On going supplier support and secondary tax take from local business around the yards and suppliers will add even more. In the past the orders for new kit for UK armed services have been predicated of exports, if that pattern repeats (and it b****y well should) then with luck the RN might get some extra kit, but there is so much that is needed…
We will see, but if there isn’t an order for an extra few T31 for the RN at some point then the government simply do not get the threat we face and are gambling with our future. They won’t be the first to be fair.
Cheers CR
PS. As for being a Halfwit, you deserve an Oscar for the performance 🙂
I think that this has only come about on the back of the Norway order and the potential Denmark and Sweden orders. They are just trying to jump on the band wagon so they can use it for the elections next year.