Scrapping warships is 'sad day' says Tory MP

REBECCA SMITH 'SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED' OVER DECISION

- WILLIAM TELFORD

THE loss of three Devonport warships in a cost-saving exercise has been branded "a sad day for Plymouth" by the city's only Tory MP.

Rebecca Smith said the Labour Government's decision to scrap amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark and the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland will diminish the Royal Navy as a full fighting force and land a "huge blow" to the city's prestige and economy.

The South West Devon MP said: "Our dockyard is a source of immense pride to our city. The loss of Devonport 's largest warships is a sad day for Plymouth.

"The decision to cut HMS Albion, Bulwark and Northumberland at a time of growing global instability diminishes the Royal Navy's status as a 'full-spectrum force. It also raises serious questions about the service's recruitment." Defence Secretary John Healey last week told the House of Commons that the warships, two support tankers, Army drones and helicopters would be scrapped as part of a plan to save the Ministry of Defence (MoD) £150m over the next two years. He blamed the former Tory Government for leaving Labour with the "dire inheritance" of a financial black hole.