Skynet: MPs argue as Airbus Portsmouth jobs hang in balance with opposition satellite deal deemed 'outrageous'
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Hundreds of skilled engineers work in Portsmouth to produce ground-breaking space satellites
Arguments are swirling among MPs over where to build revolutionary space satellites - with hundreds of jobs in Portsmouth hanging in the balance.
Politicians and officials are deciding which company should be awarded the SkyNet 6WSS space satellite contract contract, a deal worth around £2.4bn. Prime minister Andy Burnham has two options to consider; one from one of the largest employers in the city, Airbus, and another from the US-based defence giant Lockheed Martin.
The News, backed by Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt, has written an open letter to Mr Burnham urging him to back the city with the contract. Around 600 employees at Airbus in Anchorage Park are already working on SkyNet 6A, with advanced space manufacturing in the city dating back years.
The contract will see upgrades made throughout the defence network and a replacement for SkyNet 5. Two geostationary satellites being produced to provide secure communications into the 2040s and beyond.
Lockheed Martin is promising to build a new factory in Durham if their bid is successful, which will provide 400 jobs. Those roles in the north of England will come at the expense of jobs in Portsmouth.
Under that agreement, part of the manufacturing process will also take place in the United States. Cllr Pitt said the government turning its back on the city’s industry will not only detriment to the local economy, but also national security.
“When we have just seen how a US company impacted upon Ukraine's defences and while we have a US President who cares little for his allies, to award the Skynet contract to an American company would be outrageous,” he told The News. UK security must come first.
“The prime minister visited the city at the start of his premiership and said it's his job to keep this country safe. He was absolutely right to say that and now he needs to stand by his words and award the Skynet contract to Airbus and in doing so, keep hundreds of vitally important defence jobs in Portsmouth."
The issue is expected to be debated in parliament today. On a recent visit to Portsmouth, prime minister Andy Burnham promised to reindustrialise the area and place power into the hands of cities in the south as well as the north.
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin and Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia have written letters and pushed Mr Burnham to back Airbus, but they face opposition from within their own party.
The Guardian reports that Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, is whole-heartedly behind Lockheed’s bid and is lobbying on its behalf. He is joined by mayor for north east England, Kim McGuinness.
“This represents a massive investment in the reindustrialisation of the north-east of England, building on our region’s proud heritage of advanced manufacturing,” he said.
The Guardian also reported that Guillaume Faury, the chief executive of France-headquartered Airbus, has written to Mr Burnham and said the SkyNet 6 decision would have effects for decades to come on the UK’s strength in military satellites in Europe. Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham, also warned against “handing the British space industry over to the Americans”.
Commenting on the situation, Mrs Martin said: “Airbus manufactures the payload ‘brains’ of their satellite in my constituency in Portsmouth. They are the only company who build large space craft end-to-end in the UK, in Stevenage and Portsmouth.
“We must sustain this sovereign manufacturing capability which is providing 3,000 highly skilled jobs and 18,000 more in the supply chain. We need to reindustrialise our country and back British jobs. I am glad the Prime Minister shares this ambition.
“I have been pushing all parts of Government involved in this decision to award Airbus this contract. My constituents already have the skills and facilities to deliver this programme. We can't risk jobs that already exist on the promise of new jobs in the North East.”
The decision rests on chancellor John Healey and Mr Burnham. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said no final decisions have been made. Airbus have declined to comment, given the ongoing procurement process.