Debating ways to keep city and nation safe

The Herald has invited local politicians to explain how key election manifesto subjects will benefit the people of Plymouth. Today, we look at their contributions on the subject of defence

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

JOHNNY Mercer, Conservative candidate for Plymouth Moor View says: “Back in 2015, I pledged that I would expand Devonport Dockyard for the first time in a generation. I understood the importance of Devonport to Plymouth’s identity and what a thriving dockyard would mean for the future of our city.

“Devonport’s future was in jeopardy back in 2013. After years of neglect, the Office for Nuclear Regulation placed it under special measures. Local politicians failed to address serious safety concerns on the ageing facilities; a string of incidents ensued, with a worker shockingly receiving an internal dose of radioactivity; and safety reporting procedures were described as ‘significantly below standard’. It was a sad reflection of how our city, despite its immense contribution to our nation’s storied history, had been taken for granted by successive governments.

“Once elected in May 2015, I was hell-bent on overturning a generation of decline at Devonport. I set about winning the contract to portbase the new Type 26 frigates at the dockyard. I would not take no for an answer or, as a proud champion of Plymouth, let the naysayers continue to talk down our city’s chances. I wrote to the Prime Minister back in 2018 and campaigned rigorously to ensure that all eight of these worldclass vessels would be based right here in Plymouth.

“Devonport is the Royal Navy’s main site for nuclear submarine maintenance. Last November, the engineering company, Babcock, signed a £750 million contract with the Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Delivery Agency to deliver future submarine capability. It will draw an additional 1,000 jobs into our city and be supported by the Government’s £2 billion overhaul of Devonport’s facilities.