The SNP has condemned the decision of the Ministry of Defence to delay delivery of the new multi-billion pound aircraft carriers and has called on the MoD to ensure there is no delay in work at the Govan, Scotstoun or Rosyth yards.

Govan MSP and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, branded delaying the programme a "major mistake".

Work on the £4billion vessels was due to get underway at yards in Govan and at Rosyth next spring, but the Ministry of Defence have confirmed that the in-service date will be delayed by two years raising the possibility of delays to the contract start dates.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Workers at BVT will be concerned today at the impact of these delays on their jobs.

"John Hutton must guarantee there are no job losses as a result of the Labour Government's decision to delay these carriers.

"These contracts were supposed to signed, sealed and ready to be delivered.

"As usual the Ministry of Defence have made bold promises to workers in Glasgow which are rapidly being broken.

"I will be in contact with John Hutton to secure a guarantee that there will be no delay in starting these contracts and that no gap will be allowed to appear in the contracts for Govan, Scotstoun or Rosyth."

Mr Robertson said: "This delay to the carrier programme is a disgraceful breach of trust by the Labour government with the shipyards and workforce.

"Back in July, during the Glasgow East by-election, Labour said this deal was “signed and sealed” – now we have delay and uncertainty.

"It would be a major mistake to delay the carrier programme, and the Ministry of Defence must rule out any threat to Scottish jobs. The future of the workforce in Glasgow and Fife must come before cost cutting.

"The UK Government needs to reconsider its defence spending priorities. Instead of wasting a fortune on a replacement for Trident, it should make long term strategic investments in assets such as these aircraft carriers."

Note:

The statement by Defence Secretary John Hutton states: "We have concluded that there is scope for bringing more closely into line the introduction of the Joint Combat Aircraft Carrier. This is likely to mean delaying the In service Date of the new carriers by 1-2 years. We are in close consultation with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance on how this might best be done."