MPs criticised for lack of shipbuilding support
PORTSMOUTH MPs must put their money where their mouth is to stop the '˜tragic demise' of the city's 500-year-old shipbuilding industry, a union boss has said.
GMB have criticised the city’s two Tory MPs, Penny Mordaunt and Flick Drummond, claiming they were ‘all flash and no cash’.
It comes after Ms Mordaunt said she ‘supports’ work for a new breed of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels being built in Portsmouth’s dockyard, following a plea by the GMB.
But the union has hit back, saying repeated calls for Ms Mordaunt and Mrs Drummond to meet them have fallen on deaf ears.
Ross Murdoch, GMB organiser, said: ‘It’s all well and good MPs gaining plaudits for publically backing our campaign to revive Portsmouth’s shipbuilding industry. But Penny Mordaunt and Flick Drummond need to put their money where their mouth is.
‘GMB has been in touch with both of them to meet and discuss strategy – Flick hasn’t responded to a request for meeting dates – while Penny hasn’t responded at all.
‘Given that the (Sir John) Parker report encouraged the government to work with the trade unions on jobs and apprenticeships the local MPs for Portsmouth appear to be paying lip service only to this.’