A TRADE union leader has accused MP Willie Rennie of “scaremongering” following comments he made about Rosyth dockyard.

The Lib Dem MP for Dunfermline and West Fife expressed concern for the future of the yard after it was revealed it would be autumn before the Ministry of Defence places orders for the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers.

Hugh Scullion, regional political officer for defence union Unite-Amicus, said Mr Rennie’s comments had done nothing to help the workforce.

He said, “Mr Rennie’s comments over the past few days in relation to the carrier contract and the pension dispute have been both ill judged and ill informed.”

The pension dispute and the carrier contract are two separate issues, said Mr Scullion in response to concerns raised by Mr Rennie that the dispute would tarnish the yard’s reputation.

Mr Rennie also commented that the delay in the carrier contract could lead to redundancies at the dockyard.

“As a member of the defence select committee he must be aware, as the unions are, of the delicate situation surrounding the carrier contract discussions, through which Rosyth is well placed to do well in terms of future workload,” said Mr Scullion.

“Secondly, his comments about the current pension dispute show a real lack of understanding of the situation which has developed…

“By these public interventions, he shows a distinct lack of understanding of the relationship between the unions, Babcock, and the MoD.”