Viewpoint: A shot in the foot
Orders for three Fleet Solid Support ships to support the capital ships of the Royal Navy, worth nearly $1.3bn, could go abroad. There will be forceful arguments for an international tender — but there are alternatives that would protect UK jobs and husband specialist shipbuilding skills
There will be plenty of voices calling for the orders to be placed domestically, citing the capabilities of shipbuilders which together built the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and a sistership at Rosyth