Unions demand BAE meeting over Portsmouth shipbuilding jobs threat

A ship builder constructs a section of the first of two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers at BAE Systems in Portsmouth. Credit: Chris Ison/PA Archive/Press Association Images

The firm refused to comment on speculation that hundreds of jobs could be axed at Govan and Scotstoun in Scotland and Portsmouth.

A BAe spokeswoman said: "We continue to work closely with the Ministry of Defence to explore all possible options to determine how best to sustain the capability to deliver complex warships in the UK in the future.

"This work is ongoing and we are committed to keeping our employees and trade unions informed as it progresses."

Hugh Scullion, Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions general secretary said: "We have secured talks with senior BAe systems executives early next week to examine the business case of the forthcoming announcement.

"Now is not the time for idle speculation or indeed party political point scoring, this is the future of an industry and we need to know from the company and the government directly what their plans for the future of UK shipbuilding are.