The Scottish Secretary and Holyrood’s leader of the opposition were branded “a disgrace” by the SNP for raising concerns about shipbuilding in an independent Scotland.
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont insisted a yes vote next September would be “the death knell” of shipbuilding in Scotland.
During an ill-tempered Holyrood debate, Ms Lamont said Fife-based Raymond Duguid and Eric McLeod, Scotstoun union conveners John Dolan and Duncan McPhee and former Confederation of Shipbuilding Unions general secretary John Wall have all raised concerns about independence in recent weeks.
She said: “The only option for bridging the gap between the carrier project that kept Govan and Scotstoun open and any future plans for shipbuilding is naval contracts.
“There is now only one barrier to Scottish shipbuilding and that is the referendum on Scottish independence. If Scotland votes yes next year, it will be the death knell of a proud industry.”
Her comments were met with jeers from the SNP and the party’s MSP for Clydebank Gil Paterson was called to order amid shouts of “you’re a disgrace to Scotland” in Ms Lamont’s direction.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay called for the comment to be withdrawn but Scottish Government veterans’ minister Keith Brown also attacked Alistair Carmichael for suggesting shipbuilding contracts could be shifted south if Scotland votes for independence.
Mr Brown said: “You have the Secretary of State for Scotland promoting Portsmouth as the place that should get the Type 26 contracts. He should defend these Scottish jobs and it’s a disgrace that he hasn’t done so.”