Mike Hancock News
Mike Hancock slams Tory proposal to cut aircraft carriers programme
Mike Hancock has reacted angrily to news that the Tory Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne has named the aircraft carrier programme has one that he could cut immediately after the General Election if the Tories come to power. Mr Osborne told reporters today: "I do not know the details of some of the major defence projects which have been the subject of speculation in the newspapers. I simply do not know what the break clauses are in the Eurofighter programme or the A400M or the aircraft carriers." The Times website goes on to report, "Mr Osborne will know that by naming the programmes he will encourage speculation that he plans to cut them." Mr Osborne has said that the Tories will have a snap budget immediately after a General Election to make defence cuts.
Mike said: "This is devastating news for Portsmouth. It is clear that if people vote for a Tory Government, it could severely hit the city's economy. It will be devastating if the construction of the aircraft carriers are either stopped or the programme cut back - not just for shipbuilding generally and for the naval base but for economy as a whole in the city. Thousands of local jobs depend both directly and indirectly on the building of these ships. It is also clear from the wars and conflicts that Britain has been fighting recently that we need these aircraft carriers to support our forces in a flexible way. They are simply a necessary part of a modern warfare."
Notes: The Times article is at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6835280.ece.
And a Press Association report is at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ht0Hub1vBKu8nET8gCrpT5BrDFZA
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