Responding to the refreshed policy announced today by the Defence Secretary, Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of defence union Prospect, said:

“Britain has a world-class defence industry that supports thousands of high-skilled jobs across the UK.

“Yet any talk of refreshing policy is being undermined by uncertainty over funding and continued job losses. Many workers in Portsmouth and Rosyth are not sure if they will have a job in 2018. Government needs to deliver on the promises made in the Shipbuilding Strategy to share work across UK shipyards.

“We need a clear commitment to the investment needed to provide our armed forces with the best equipment, protect our defence capability and to maintain good jobs throughout the supply chain.”