Plymouth MP demands 'clarity' over Royal Navy warships

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard said he has written to the Defence Secretary asking for “urgent clarification” over future of Royal Navy warships.

Recent media reports in a number of national newspapers highlighted concerns of that Ministry of Defence minister Grant Shapps was considering mothballing the Royal Navy’s two key amphibious ships used by the Royal Marines. It was claimed that this would have to be done as the Navy now had so few sailors that it would have to decommission HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion to staff its new class of frigates.

In a heated debate in the House of Commons, the Defence Minister admitted that “no final decision has been made” on the future of both Landing Platform Dock vessels based in Devonport.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport has said he has now written to the Defence Secretary demanding “urgent clarification” nothing that it was only in 2017 that the city had to battle to ensure the warships were kept in operation.

In the letter written to Grant Shapps, Mr Pollard stated that rumours he is considering retiring HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark from active service had “caused considerable concern in Plymouth.” Both amphibious assault ships are based at Devonport.

The Plymouth MP and shadow Armed Forces Minister also welcomed this week’s announcement that the Defence Committee was intending to call witnesses for a special inquiry into the possible mothballing of Albion and Bulwark, including the potential consequences for Royal Marine capabilities if the ships leave active service.

Mr Pollard stated the inquiry was a “precious opportunity to make the case for these ships, the Royal Navy and for the Royal Marines.”

Both LPDs are designed to transport the Royal Marines and their equipment ashore, leading to concerns that retiring the ships may lead to a reduced role for the Royal Marines. Albion and Bulwark were expected to remain in service until 2034.

In the House of Commons this week, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps admitted that “no final decision has been made” on whether Albion and Bulwark would be retired from active service, highlighting the very real threat to the future of these ships.

In its 2018 report, ‘Sunset for the Royal Marines’, the Defence Committee’s predecessor Committee warned that the disposal of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark would be “militarily illiterate” and “totally at odds with strategic reality”.

It should be noted that in 2014, the Royal Navy’s helicopter carrier HMS Ocean underwent a £65m refit at HMNB Devonport and at the time the then Defence Minister boasted: “I am delighted that this contract will not only ensure that HMS Ocean remains a significant, highly flexible and capable warship for years to come.”

HMS Ocean Decommissioning at Devonport Dockyard 2018 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second decommissions HMS Ocean

Then in November 2015 the Ministry of Defence announced HMS Ocean would be decommissioned in 2018, with one of Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers taking over its work. HMS Ocean was sold in early 2018 to Brazil. As part of the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) unveiled in Nov 2015 it was announced that one of two 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth-class carriers which were then being assembled at Rosyth in Scotland would be be “enhanced” to support Royal Marine amphibious operations.

Mr Pollard said: “Having successfully stopped Ministers scrapping Albion and Bulwark once, they’re at it again. To stop Rishi Sunak from mothballing Devonport’s largest warships we will need to bring all the pressure we can to bear on the MOD.

“That’s why I have called on the Defence Secretary to urgently set out whether rumours of mothballing these ships are accurate, so the mist of concern can be lifted and plans can be adequately scrutinised and assessed.

“It is now important that an inquiry from the committee that scrutinises defence is used a precious opportunity to make the case for these ships, the Royal Navy and for the Royal Marines.”

The Defence Committee has announced its intention to hold its evidence session within the next few weeks.

Commenting on the new inquiry, Vice-Chair of the Defence Committee, John Spellar MP, said: “The Royal Marines are rightly viewed as a jewel in the defence crown. They play a pivotal role in the UK’s ability to defend its interests abroad. But they cannot do that without the right equipment and transport.

“The Defence Committee is deeply concerned by reports that the Government is considering retiring HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, which the Royal Marines rely on. We first raised the alarm on the damaging consequences this would have for the Royal Marines back in 2018. Losing these ships would make successful amphibious landings very difficult, and touted alternatives are unlikely to fill the hole Albion and Bulwark would leave.

“The Defence Committee today announces plans to hold an evidence session to further consider the impact losing these ships would have, and to hold the Government to account on its plans for the Royal Marines’ capabilities. We will announce details of witnesses in due course.”