CONFEDERATION of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions chairman Jim Moohan has said he is “75 per cent confident” that new Navy Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde if Scotland votes No to independence.

In contrast, unions have experienced “a complete lack of engagement” from First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon, CSEU chairman Mr Moohan said following a meeting with Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael.

Officials and senior shop stewards from BAE Systems, Babcock Marine, Rolls-Royce, Selex and Thales met Mr Carmichael this week to seek assurances on job retention, skills preservation and investment if Scotland remains part of the union.

Mr Moohan said: “He’s batting for the UK government, so he is more or less saying ‘if you vote Yes then, sorry, you have lost’.

“I got far more of an assurance out of Alistair Carmichael today and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond six weeks ago that the No vote would bring the Type 26 to Clydeside.

Mr Moohan said he has “not had one question answered by the First Minister” and SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon has “no understanding” of how contracts are delivered in the shipyards adjacent to her Glasgow constituency.

“Nicola Sturgeon’s last comment on defence was that we could take one Type 26 and build it, which is very naive,” Mr Moohan said.

“You can’t build a £1 billion contract as a stand-alone item. You need to contract to develop the thirteen in the programme for its full potential.”

A Scottish government spokesman added: “The Royal Navy will continue to order ships from Scottish yards, as these are the best place to produce these vessels.”