Deputy general secretary, Garry Graham, said: “For an island nation and in this time of increased global uncertainty, we should be seeking to maintain our shipbuilding capacity, not reduce it.”

“Shipbuilding is not only a key element of our defence infrastructure, it is also an industry where the UK should be a world-leader, creating and sustaining highly skilled and well-paid jobs.”

He added: “Job losses of this scale will have a devastating impact upon local communities and economies. These are the very type of highly skilled jobs which should be leading us out of recession and helping create growth in the economy.”