The Scottish Conservatives will today [Wednesday] demand that the SNP drop their “naïve, immature and reckless” opposition to Scotland’s defence sector, which led them to veto government support for welding apprenticeships at Rolls-Royce.
In a debate at Holyrood, shadow business and economy secretary Murdo Fraser will call for them to reverse their policy of refusing to invest in businesses that “drive innovation, growth and create skilled jobs”.
The Scottish defence sector supports thousands of jobs and contributes billions of pounds to the economy.
The Scottish Conservatives say the SNP’s refusal to engage with it not only endangers jobs and growth, but the security of the UK.
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for business and economy Murdo Fraser said: “Scotland’s defence industry is a crucial part of our economy, supporting thousands of jobs.
“The damage done by the SNP’s naïve, immature and reckless opposition to any defence work was seen recently when they blocked a £2.5million grant to Rolls-Royce that would have led to the creation of a specialist welding centre on the Clyde offering apprenticeships. That work will now go elsewhere.
“The Nationalists’ juvenile virtue-signalling is undermining the UK’s security in an ever-more insecure world, undermining successful businesses, and barring young people from acquiring skilled jobs.
“It also undermines the SNP’s claims to support Ukraine’s brave resistance against Putin’s invasion, and their professed backing of the increased defence spending essential for European security.
“Our defence sector drives innovation in the STEM sector, engineering, avionics, optics and a host of related fields that fuel growth and create skilled jobs. The SNP cannot pretend that it wants to see those vital areas prosper, while cutting off support for the industries that foster them.”
Notes to editors
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/snp-policy-kills-11m-naval-welding-project-on-the-clyde/