Birkenhead’s Labour MP has slated Boris Johnson’s shipbuilding plan, after the PM visited the Wirral town earlier today.
Mr Johnson has announced a £4bn plan which the government hopes will secure the future of shipbuilding in the UK for the next 30 years.
The government said the plan would create tens of thousands of jobs and deliver more than 150 new naval and civil vessels over the next 30 years.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson promises improvements on Ukraine refugee scheme during Merseyside visit
It is hoped the investment will galvanise shipyards and suppliers across the country, including Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird.
But Mick Whitley, MP for Birkenhead, was not convinced by the plan.
The Labour MP said: “After months of delay, I’m glad that the Government has at last come forward with their refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
“But while a 30-year pipeline for the industry is welcome, this strategy fails to give British shipyards the cast-iron guarantees of work that they need.
“I’ve consistently called on ministers to adopt a policy of building in Britain by default. Today’s announcement contains no such commitment.”
Mr Whitley added: “There are a wealth of highly-skilled jobs, training opportunities, and skills in British shipbuilding and shipyards like Cammell Laird have a vital role to play in levelling-up left-behind towns like Birkenhead.
“But the Government is set to continue selling out British shipyards by sending work abroad.
“Building in Britain isn’t just about protecting jobs and work, it’s also vital to safeguarding our national security in a fast-changing and increasingly volatile world.”
The UK’s shipbuilding industry currently supports 42,600 jobs across the UK and contributes more than £2.8bn to the economy.
Ahead of his trip to Merseyside, Mr Johnson said: "Shipbuilding has been in our blood for centuries and I want to ensure it remains at the heart of British industry of generations to come.
“The National Shipbuilding Strategy will transform this important and crucial industry, creating jobs, driving technology development and upskilling the shipbuilders of tomorrow, ensuring we are levelling up across every dock, port and shipyard in the UK.
“This will ensure the UK is rightly seen as a shipbuilding power across the world.”
But Mr Whitley disagreed and looked forward to the future of British shipbuilding in his analysis of today’s announcement.
The Birkenhead MP said: “The strategy also fails to address the immediate challenge of securing work for British yards in the short-term.
"It’s no good telling shipbuilders that things will get better in five or 10 years time, when many yards are facing enormous challenges now.
“Today’s announcement was big on rhetoric, but it remains to be seen what this will mean for shipbuilders like Cammell Laird in the long-term.
“The next major test of this Government’s resolve is the competition for the new Fleet Solid Support Ships.
“Ministers must ensure that these vessels are built and designed in their entirety in the UK. Anything else would be a historic betrayal of Britain’s shipyards and towns like Birkenhead.”
While the Prime Minister was in Birkenhead today, the ECHO asked Mr Johnson about the government’s heavily-criticised approach towards Ukrainian refugees.
In response, Mr Johnson revealed that a new announcement will be made in the coming days that will allow groups, families and people in this region and around the UK who want to welcome Ukrainians into their homes and communities to do so 'in a very simple way.'
