Unions in call to save Harland and Wolff’s Scottish yards

These are difficult words for an incoming Labour politician, carrying the expectations of a changed approach to industrial policy as it might affect shipyards with numerous workers and a Royal Navy contract.

He went on to acknowledge the concern for workers and those in companies supplying the yards, saying he is working with devolved governments and unions.

But this is an early indication both to Harland and Wolff and others that they cannot look to Whitehall for bailouts.

With a specialist bank looking at “strategic options” – which usually means a sale or break-up of assets – the question for Methil and Arnish is whether they are core to the company’s strategy.

A review of Harland and Wolff might wish to focus on the assets it needs to fulfil the Royal Navy order, for which the yards in Belfast and Devon are better equipped.

Arnish and Methil provide extra capacity for modules for that work, but for the core mission look more dispensable.

Louise Gilmour there are many options to protect the yards, some involving the manufacture of wind turbines and other renewable energy infrastructure.

“If talk of a just transition is ever to be more than empty words, these workers and their yards must have a secure future as part of a new industrial strategy for Scotland,” she said.

“It is not enough just for the yards to survive, they must be supported to thrive.”