Conservative leadership candidates urged to back UK workers for £1.5billion ship deal

Exclusive:

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss face calls from unions to accept a series of tests when deciding which companies should benefit from the Fleet Solid Support ships contract

The duo are in the running to succeed Boris Johnson (

Image: PA)

Tory leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are set to hand over a £1.5 billion contract to British workers tonight.

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions has written to the two No. 10 applicants urging the winner to award the contract for three Fleet Solid Support vessels to UK companies.

The exceptional defense deal due to be signed this autumn could be awarded to a foreign company rather than a British consortium, depriving Britain of a potential job.

Receive a daily morning political briefing straight to your inbox.Sign up for the free Mirror Politics newsletter

In letters, seen by the Mirror, to the Tory couple, CSEU General Secretary Ian Waddell said the project "is strategically important to industry and the country".

Three fleet strong support ships must be built (

Picture:

Daily check-in)

He says: "The contract, which will be worth £1.5billion, will result in a return of £355million in tax returns to the Treasury and safeguard 40,000 jobs across shipyards across the United Kingdom.

"This investment will boost our regional economies and support our main street businesses.

"It will also maintain the skills and manpower needed to carry out the next phase of naval procurement under the National Shipbuilding Strategy."

The 40,000-tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliaries will resupply Royal Navy warships, including the £6.2 billion Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, with food supplies , ammunition and explosives.