Defence Jobs At Risk Says Unite's Bernie Hamilton

Conservative and Lib Dem defence industry policies will lead to massive job losses and undermine Britain's manufacturing base, Unite National officer Bernie Hamilton has warned.

Unite activists who represent 30,000 workers in the defence and manufacturing industry have expressed "grave concerns" over the proposals.

In an open letter, 173 union reps lambast the Tories and Lib Dems for failing to "guarantee the continuation of contracts being built across the UK, principally at BAE Systems Warton, Rolls-Royce Bristol and Airbus Filton."

This shows their lack of "understanding of the importance to this nation's security of the UK defence manufacturing sector as it does about their reluctance to support industry through direct intervention," the union said.

Unite also made a pointed attack on Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, who is rumoured to be in the running for chancellor in a hung parliament.

"The Lib Dems are not exempt either - Vince Cable has clearly outlined his intentions to cut and gut the defence sector and his laissez-faire announcements of the cancellation of contracts would end defence manufacturing as we know it," union reps wrote.

Warning of a return to the 1980s, Unite spelled out the danger of letting either party into power, due to their "reluctance to support industry through direct intervention."

In the run-up to the general election, Unite promised to highlight "to workers in England and Wales defence workplaces our grave concerns about the future of the industry under a Tory government and any involvement of Liberal Democrats in defence manufacturing."

Bernie Hamilton accused the Tories and Lib Dems of "inexperience and a cavalier attitude."

He added: "George Osborne and Liam Fox have both said on the record that on day one of a Conservative government they would exercise the break clauses in major defence contracts.

"These MPs' amateurish approach will fundamentally damage the defence industry and Britain's manufacturing base," he added.