I posted this on the Yes Scotland facebook page yesterday. Im not sure how many people read it, but two people replied. One was perfectly civil, the other a deluded troll whos keyboard skills were so lacking I could barely understand what he was on about. Anyway, just want your guys thoughts and any feedback is welcome. Given where I post this, this will either be removed almost immediately, ignored, or most likely both, but there is no point in me bringing this up to unionists or members of the Better Together campaign. If, however, you do grace these pages and have had the opportunity and decided to offer some of you valuable time to read this, you have my thanks. Im not a member of any movement, campaign or political party. This is just me and the research I have done. This concerns the recent actions of Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. She recently visited the Clydeside shipyards and addressed the Scottish Parliament in the wake of the recent announced UK wide job losses at BAE Systems. Her goal was to convince industry members, the trade unions, the Scottish Parliament members and the public in general that the planned contract to build the Type 26 Frigate for the Royal Navy in the BAE Systems Shipyards at Govan and Scotstoun could still go ahead. This claim was quickly dismissed by GMB Convener at Scotstoun John Dolan, alongside defence chiefs and experts on both sides. Addressing the Scottish Parliament on Thursday November 7th 2013, the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was again largely about the effects of Independence of our shipbuilding industry and, Im afraid to say, bent a few truths while shes at it. Firstly, she makes the completely flawed statement that UK Government has no other choice but to build the new Type 26 Frigates anywhere but that the shipyards of Govan and Scotstoun; The UK Government would have nowhere else to build these ships (Type 26 Frigate) True, BAE and the MOD want to build these ships on the Clyde, but that doesnt mean its the only option. First of all, theres Portsmouth. I know they are going through the afore mentioned employee downsizing and ending shipbuilding activities, but the yard itself will remain open and could easily be re-staffed and re-organized to for-fill this contract. Remember, its the same company as on the Clydeside, and facing the problems of taxation with Scotland not being part of the UK or EU as well as the issue with handling classified information. Because of my job, I have been briefed on the Information Trafficking and Arms Regulations (ITAR), a series of guidelines set by US defence laws that restrict handling certain information, components and designs from anyone other than authorized citizens and companies in the UK and US only. Seriously, do you think BAE Systems will bear the burden of that kind of trouble over just building them at another one of their own yards? Then there is also A and P Group on the Tyne, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria (Note, ANOTHER yard owned by BAE), Cammell Yard in Liverpool and several smaller yards like Babcock Appledore that could (in theory and if it makes business sense) build parts and ship them for assembly. Theyre doing now for the QEC Class Carriers, so why not. Building the 13 Type 26 Frigates, £500 million each, is very possible down south. She goes on to mention this article ( royalnavy.mod.uk/.../18/130118-UK-and-Aus-Type26 clarly ) hinting that we could building Australia new ships and us building theirs in some kind of joint effort. Well ladies and gents, Nicolas wrong again. You see, I did something she didnt, actually read the article. What their talking about a collaboration sharing information about the Type 26 to help the Aussies DESIGN their new frigates, NOT build them. They will be building their ships and we will build ours. That simple. Its not uncommon for the MOD to collaborate with foreign partners to design hardware, but there has not been any Royal Navy ship built outside the UK since or before the world wars, and those were special circumstances obviously. And according to MOD leaders and UK law, that will never happen again unless it becomes absolutely necessary. However, apparently we had subcontracted Navy ships to Korea according to Nicola Sturgeon. And, indeed, we did, but like all politicians she neglected to mention something that would hurt her argument. Those ships were not complicated warships like the Type 26, they were tankers. Whats more, they were orders for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a civilian fleet, so those designs are not covered by the same security and procurement laws as Royal Navy Vessels. Its just not the same thing. We go independent, Scotland looses this contract, and quite possibly one of its longest running and revered industries since the MOD wont call upon Scotland and her great talents in this field again, and that hurts everyone. There is more to think about concerning the independence vote than just this of course, but people should think about how this referendum will affect their future, not just let themselves be blinded by a desire to stick up the middle one to the UK Government and the sense of pride wed feel for breaking away on our own. That wont mean much if (and I said, IF) were worse off for it. I dont know the future, but what I do know is that this referendum makes me feel nervous for my future, the future of my family and country. Once again, thanks for taking the time to read this. Yours sincerely, a concerned young pipe-fitter with a very young son working at the Rosyth Dockyard.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 20:17:57 +0000
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