DEFENCE jobs in Glasgow would be lost if Scotland becomes independent, according to a new think tank report.

The report by The Scotland Institute, written by a panel chaired by a UK army Major-General, agreed with the anti-independence argument that the rest of the UK would not give orders to an independent Scotland.

It said that defence firms like BAE and Thales, which provide almost 5000 jobs in the city, would likely look to relocate to England to "follow the money" from UK Ministry of Defence orders.

The think tank, which was founded last year by Scots academic Dr Azeem Ibrahim, who said it is independent of partisan politics.

The report stated: "A defence industry of some sort will probably survive in an independent Scotland, but it is unlikely to be anywhere near its current size: jobs and economic growth in Scotland therefore are very much at stake.

"The most important set of considerations relate to shipbuilding."

The institute argued a decision on forthcoming Type 26 frigate orders is being delayed until after the referendum, and suggests if Scotland votes to leave the UK the ships will be built in Portsmouth.

It said that the yards could continue with refit and refurbishment work for a future Scottish navy but the report suggests that would require only a smaller workforce and competing for commercial work internationally is an "untested proposition".

The SNP said the report omitted the assets Scotland would inherit from the UK after independence

Angus Robertson, SNP defence spokesman, said "The key difference is that after independence, Scotland would decide how to spend all of the money it contributes to defence.

"A sovereign Scotland can therefore increase spending on conventional defence in Scotland while making savings from Trident.

Parties campaigning for a no vote in the referendum said it was more proof that independence came with unaffordable costs.

Jim Murphy, Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, said: "As a growing army of experts have shown, the SNP's defence plans would undermine Scotland's national interest."

stewart.paterson@eveningtimes.co.uk