Anger over takeover of Titanic shipbuilder

Critics fear final assembly will move from Belfast to Spain

- Martyn Brown

A SPANISH takeover of Titanic shipbuilder Harland & Wolff has been blasted as a "smoke and mirrors" deal that could see Royal Navy ships assembled outside Britain.

Navantia, Spain's stateowned shipbuilder, is purchasing all four sites around the UK after the parent company of the yards fell into administration.

About 1,000 jobs are to be saved at shipyards in Northern Scotland and England.

Business Secretary Ireland, Jonathan Reynolds said the deal was "good for jobs" and "good for national security" and the deal was "a major vote of confidence in the UK from Navantia".

Asked whether the Government had sweetened the deal for Navantia by boosting the contract to deliver three Royal Navy support ships, Mr Reynolds said there had been a "minor revision" to include "more support" from the government.