There's still a future for shipbuilding on the Clyde

Politicians in Glasgow were pleased that the future order for Type 26 Frigates is likely to go to the Govan and Scotstoun yards and that the contract for three offshore patrol vessels will keep the workers employed.

However, they expressed regret the news came with so many Clyde jobs being lost.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose constituency covers Govan, said: "The loss of 800 jobs across Scottish yards is a significant and devastating blow for the workers involved and for their families, for the industry and the wider Glasgow and Scottish economy.

"The announcement should also make us think long and hard about how we secure the long term future of the shipbuilding industry.

"Even with this last guaranteed work from the Ministry Of Defence and the Type 26 vessels, the Clyde yards still face substantial job losses.

"There can, and must, be a secure future for shipbuilding in Scotland but the announcement is a wake-up call to think differently about the future of our yards.

"Naval procurement will be part of that future, but we need to do more to seek export work and diversify beyond naval orders alone."

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "This is a dreadful blow to a highly-skilled and dignified workforce.

"However, there clearly remains a sustainable future for shipbuilding on the Clyde for decades to come.

"I have been assured additional orders will come to the Clyde to cover the period after the work on the carriers ends, and that Glasgow is best placed to build the Type 26 frigates."

Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader and Pollok MSP, said: "We can take some comfort that shipbuilding on the Clyde has a future, with the confirmation that capacity will be retained at Scotstoun and Govan.

"That is good news, which rewards the skills and commitment of the workforce there."

At Westminster, politicians of all parties were eager to ensure shipbuilding had a long term future on the Clyde.

Scottish Secretary and LibDems MP Alistair Carmichael said the ships contract award was "the best available news".

He said: "The size of the Clyde workforce was always going to peak with the aircraft carrier work.

"By providing new MoD orders for the Clyde in the gap before the Type 26 frigate work begins we are putting the yards on a sustainable footing.

"This news confirms there is a clear and defined future for workers on the Clyde. I welcome that assurance."

Shadow Scottish Secret­ary and Glasgow MP Margaret Curran said: "My first thoughts are with the workers at Govan and Scotstoun who have gone home with questions about the future of their jobs.

"The award of the contracts for the three offshore patrol vehicles is testament to the skills of the workforce on the Clyde and a vote of confidence in the future of these yards."

Glasgow Central MP Anas Sarwar asked the Defence Secretary what support wold be offered to the workers.

Mr Sarwar said: "I welcome the Secretary of State's announcement of the new contract, but that will give little comfort to workers in Portsmouth, Govan, Scotstoun, and Rosyth who will be losing their jobs during this difficult period."

Scottish Tories' leader and Glasgow MSP Ruth Davidson said: "I am pleased a contract for three new offshore patrol vessels has been awarded to BAE Systems today and will be built on the Clyde.

"This should bridge the gap between the carriers' project ending and the Type 26 Global Combat Ship being built, ensuring skills are retained and both Scotstoun and Govan yards are secured for the future."

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce, said: "We are pleased Glasgow has been recognised as the UK's technological centre of advanced shipbuilding.

"We are strongly welcoming the fact Govan and Scotstoun are remaining open and at scale. The decision recognises the unique nature of the expertise and capabilities on the Clyde."

Union vows it will fight to save jobs

union bosses have promised to do their best to "preserve as many jobs as possible" for shipyard workers in Glasgow.

Jamie Webster, convener of the Confederation Of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) at the Govan yard, said: "It is not the first time we have faced adversity. We will come through this bruised but not beaten.

"We are in for a difficult two years but we won't be doing a runner.

"We didn't fight for a decade to get youngsters a job to just throw that in now.

"We are not goners and we will work for the best result possible."

News of the jobs was delivered in a 10-minute briefing before the workers were told to go home for the day.

As scores of workers left the Govan site, the majority refused to comment on what they had heard inside the yard.

However, some spoke about the "uncertainty" surrounding their jobs.

One worker said: "I have been here for years and it has been a good, steady provider for my family.

"If I lose my job, I will get by, but it's the younger ones I really feel for.

"I don't think the yard will be as good a provider for the next generation."

Another BAE Systems worker, a 60-year-old man from Govan, said: "There's a lot of uncertainty at the moment, we don't really know what is happening.

"We just have to wait and see, but hopefully I'll survive."

Alex Taylor, 63, from Pollokshaws, said: "We always knew this was going to happen.

"I'm at the end of my career, it's the younger workers I feel sorry for."

BAE said in a statement it wanted to "consolidate shipbuilding operations in Glasgow with investments in facilities to create a world-class capability".

Union officials are set to have "detailed discussions" with the company next week in England over its plans and on the job losses.

David Hulse, chairman of the CSEU shipbuilding national committee, said: "There is no doubt this is a devastating day for the UK shipbuilding industry.

"The company will have justify to us the job losses planned.

"We have arranged a two-day meeting with the company at Farnborough next Monday and Tuesday that will be attended by officers and shop stewards from all the yards and all the unions.

"This meeting will examine in detail the business case and all aspects for scheduling work in the yards."

In recent years the Govan and Scotstoun yards have been working on the two aircraft carriers for Royal Navy, the biggest, most advanced warships ever to be constructed in the UK.

In Scotland the bulk of the work on HMS Queen Elizabeth was carried out at Govan, where the hull sections were built.

The different parts of the ship were transported by barge to the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, where they are being welded together.

About 700 of BAE's Glasgow staff have also been involved in this work, which is almost complete.