Rishi Sunak lambasted during shipyard visit for 'betraying' UK workers using Spanish company
Exclusive:
The government awarded the contract for the Fleet Solid Support ships to a Spanish-led consortium - sparking fury from MPs and unions who wanted a bid led by the British to win the deal
The Prime Minister visited the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast (
Image: Getty Images)
Activists today slammed Rishi Sunak for trumpeting a shipbuilding deal that will hand hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to a Spanish company.
The government has claimed the £1.6 billion contract for three strong fleet support ships went to a British-led bid.
But the parent company of the main company involved is Madrid-based Navantia.
While 1,200 jobs will be created in the UK - with the ships welded together at Harland & Wolff in Belfast - much of the work will take place in Cadiz.
Hail the deal During a visit to the Harland & Wolff shipyard today, the Prime Minister insisted: 'Complete the next generation of our world-class support ships from the Royal Navy - to strengthen our safety at sea and across the globe - couldn't have found a better home than in Belfast, once the world's largest shipyard, with its proud tradition of skill and expertise.
Picture:
issued by the Ministry of Defence)"Thousands of high-value jobs and the skills acquired by providing them today will help lay the foundations for prosperity tomorrow."
Scanning Mr Sunak's trip, Shadow Defense Secretary John Healey said: 'Far from a return to shipbuilding, the Tories have betrayed UK jobs and businesses.< /p>
"The Defense Secretary has chosen a Spanish company to build the Royal Navy's three new warships - rejecting the opportunity to build, invest and create jobs entirely in the UK, like the would do the Labor Party.
"With at least 40% of this £1.6bn deal going overseas, the Prime Minister is also expected to plan a trip to Spain, where he is now a top investor."
p>
Exclusive:
The government awarded the contract for the Fleet Solid Support ships to a Spanish-led consortium - sparking fury from MPs and unions who wanted a bid led by the British to win the deal
The Prime Minister visited the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast (
Image: Getty Images)
Activists today slammed Rishi Sunak for trumpeting a shipbuilding deal that will hand hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to a Spanish company.
The government has claimed the £1.6 billion contract for three strong fleet support ships went to a British-led bid.
But the parent company of the main company involved is Madrid-based Navantia.
While 1,200 jobs will be created in the UK - with the ships welded together at Harland & Wolff in Belfast - much of the work will take place in Cadiz.
Hail the deal During a visit to the Harland & Wolff shipyard today, the Prime Minister insisted: 'Complete the next generation of our world-class support ships from the Royal Navy - to strengthen our safety at sea and across the globe - couldn't have found a better home than in Belfast, once the world's largest shipyard, with its proud tradition of skill and expertise.
Picture:
issued by the Ministry of Defence)"Thousands of high-value jobs and the skills acquired by providing them today will help lay the foundations for prosperity tomorrow."
Scanning Mr Sunak's trip, Shadow Defense Secretary John Healey said: 'Far from a return to shipbuilding, the Tories have betrayed UK jobs and businesses.< /p>
"The Defense Secretary has chosen a Spanish company to build the Royal Navy's three new warships - rejecting the opportunity to build, invest and create jobs entirely in the UK, like the would do the Labor Party.
"With at least 40% of this £1.6bn deal going overseas, the Prime Minister is also expected to plan a trip to Spain, where he is now a top investor."
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