CLAIM:
“We’ve just won this Norway frigates contract that is 15 years of shipbuilding in Scotland. The First Minister of the SNP has said what about that since Sunday? Absolutely nothing, absolutely nothing.” – Keir Starmer, at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, September 3.
DOORSTEP ANSWER:
Starmer is simply wrong. SNP leader John Swinney has addressed and welcomed the £10bn deal to build battleships for Norway on the Clyde.
WHAT’S THE STORY?
On Sunday, August 31, the UK Government announced that a £10bn deal had been struck to build frigates for Norway at the BAE Systems yard on the Clyde.
The Govan yard, which is currently building eight frigates for the Royal Navy, will build five ships for the Norwegian military, reports said.
On Monday, September 1, the First Minister spoke to media and welcomed the deal.
“This is a welcome investment that’s been made by the Norwegian government,” Swinney said. “It demonstrates the strength and the capability of the BAE yard in Govan and the strength of the skills within Scotland.
“It’s a welcome investment in the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde.”
WHAT DID KEIR STARMER CLAIM?
Speaking at PMQs on Wednesday, September 3, Starmer twice claimed that Swinney and the SNP had been silent on the Norway deal.
In response to a question from SNP MP Pete Wishart, Starmer alleged: “We’ve just won this Norway frigates contract that is 15 years of shipbuilding in Scotland. The First Minister of the SNP has said what about that since Sunday? Absolutely nothing, absolutely nothing.”
Ahmed asked: “Is he perplexed, as I am, at the radio silence from the SNP [on the Norway deal] and the contempt the SNP continues to show for the defence sector?
“And does he agree with me that that contempt is a contempt for jobs, is a contempt for growth, and is an 18-year long contempt for Scotland?”
Starmer responded: “I’m perplexed that the First Minister has not welcomed it. This is a massive deal for Scotland. It’s 15 years of shipbuilding … I would urge the First Minister to come forward and welcome this deal.”
FACT-CHECK RATING:
Unequivocally false.
In fact, the SNP’s international affairs spokesperson at Westminster, Stephen Gethins, also welcomed the deal on Monday, giving lie to Ahmed’s claim of “radio silence” from the SNP.
On Monday, Gethins told the Commons: “I welcome the Norwegian investment in Glasgow’s shipyards. The Norwegians understand the importance of European security. The Norwegians understand the importance of territorial integrity.”
Both the Prime Minister and his Scottish Labour MP should be expected to correct the record.
