'Yards like Rosyth have been let down by Tory government'

The policy declaration could be a vote winner as Rachel Reeves said that building more vessels here rather than overseas will protect the industry with a "pipeline" of jobs, growth and investment over the next 30 years.

Workers at the West Fife yard are currently building five type-31 frigates for the Royal Navy, as part of a £1.25 billion agreement, and previously assembled the two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which ended up costing more than £7bn.

Ms Reeves said: “Rosyth is one example of the UK’s extraordinary shipbuilding industry.

"It is an industry with a proud history, deep roots in the community and a workforce that has helped the Royal Navy keep our country safe over many decades.

“Under the Conservatives, the industry and the communities it serves have been let down.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves MP visited Rosyth Dockyard last week. (Image: Newsquest)

"British companies have been overlooked time and time again, with millions of pounds worth of government contracts being awarded to companies overseas."

The shadow chancellor said that last year the Conservative government awarded a £1.6 billion contract to build three support ships for the Royal Navy to a consortium that includes a state-owned Spanish shipyard.

READ MORE: Pars get to work on new training ground in Rosyth 

Team UK, the all-British consortium, estimated that the contract could have secured 6,000 jobs across the country.

Currently warships are built in the UK but support vessels can be built by foreign yards.

She added: "As chancellor, I will back the long-term future of UK shipbuilding, ensuring we buy, make and sell more in Britain.

"That’s why Labour will direct British defence investment first to British industry, setting a higher bar for any decisions to buy abroad.

Scottish Labour councillor Graeme Downie at Rosyth Dockyard. (Image: Cllr Graeme Downie)

"And I will work with industry to secure a new shipbuilding pipeline to protect jobs, growth and investment in the industry over the next three decades."

Councillor Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour candidate for the Dunfermline and Dollar seat in the next Westminster elections, said: “Rosyth Dockyard is the largest employer in the Dunfermline area.

"Speaking with the workforce and seeing their hi-tech manufacturing skills in action it is clear how important the yard is for the defence of the UK and the future economic success of West Fife. "

He added that, if elected, securing more work for Rosyth, as well as more well paid and skilled jobs at the yard, "will be one of my top priorities".

In a separate move, the MoD have confirmed that a further £55m contract relating to the type-31 frigate programme, "for the insertion, testing and enhancement of military capability", has been awarded to Rosyth Royal Dockyard Ltd.