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The SNP has not presented a viable alternative strategy for the future of shipbuilding in Scotland in the event of a 'yes' vote in this week's referendum, campaigners have warned.
A group of 20 young shipbuilders has written to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to warn that it is “fanciful” to suggest that the current Scottish shipbuilding capacity in Glasgow could be maintained without UK defence work. Representatives of shipbuilding unions and companies such as BAE Systems and Babcock, which maintain shipbuilding yards in Glasgow and Rosyth, north of Edinburgh, have previously warned that these operations would struggle to survive without work provided by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and perhaps will be shut down altogether. Yes vote campaigners counter that they could benefit from bringing in a greater level of commercial work.
“The assertion made that current Scottish shipbuilding capacity could be sustained in the absence of UK naval contracts by diversifying into commercial alternatives is considered by us to be extraordinarily simplistic and fanciful in its assessment of the commercial market,” the 20 young workers wrote.
The group said it was “gravely concerned” about the prospect of leaving the UK and dismissed independence as “an utterly irrational gamble”. In the letter to the First Minister, the workers said shipbuilding in Glasgow is set to continue until at least the mid-2030s under UK plans, but claimed that the SNP had not presented a viable alternative strategy. “Despite our concerns, you have refused to meet us, or any of our colleagues, to discuss these issues. You are proposing independence for Scotland and it's you who should be prepared to meet with us to discuss our concerns about our jobs.”
The letter adds: “Working in the industry today, and equipped with a full appreciation of its current challenges and opportunities, there's no doubt in our minds that the prospects for Scottish shipbuilding are far more favourable as part of the United Kingdom.”
"There has been a failure to deliver any sort of credible plan or commitment to sustaining the industry in Scotland if independence were to happen. The MoD last month announced plans to build three new Royal Navy ships on the Clyde costing £348 million, helping to secure hundreds of jobs.
BAE's Scotstoun and Govan yards have been chosen to build the Type 26 Global Combat ships but fears have been raised about the future of the deal under independence. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has warned that “UK warships are only built in UK shipyards”.
Manufacturers' organisation the EEF has warned that Scotland could become an economic wasteland in the event of a vote for independence. Terry Scuoler, chief executive of the EEF, a Glaswegian, warned that young people would be especially hard hit by a diminished economy in Scotland with the loss of highly skilled jobs and no guarantee of them being replaced. He also warned of a “long-term and painful” economic decline in Scotland, with the nation potentially reduced to accepting bailouts from the EU.
Scuoler said: “Independence would be a disaster for Scotland, economically and politically. And it would greatly diminish the UK as a whole. People need to wake up to the enormity of the decision they are facing and the potential nightmare scenario were the yes campaign to succeed.
“The yes campaign has sold a vision of a prosperous future. But it's an illusion, and a dangerous one at that. The reality is there would be deeply damaging implications for the economy and the living standards of ordinary Scots for decades to come.
“There's still time for people to do some hard-headed thinking and realise that what makes Scotland a great nation is being part of a wider union from which we derive greater united strength. The truly courageous and patriotic route is to vote ‘no’ and preserve the United Kingdom.”