In January I asked the Labour Defence Secretary when the replacements for Plymouth's HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion would enter service. No answer. The following month I asked if Plymouth's warships were being flogged to a foreign navy. It was dismissed as mere speculation.
It has just been revealed that that foreign navy is BRAZIL.
HMS Bulwark has just undergone a £72.1m refit. What deal has the Labour Government brokered for Plymouth's warships? A reported £20m, £52m less than the cost of Bulwark's refit!
Their replacements won't be ready until 2033 - an eight year capability gap - and, to add insult to injury, Brasilia's bargain will mean that the Brazilian Navy will soon have a greater amphibious capability than the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.
This move is a hit to Plymouth's military prestige, risks our nation's security at a time of global upheaval and stands in direct contradiction with the Labour Government's promise to reinvest in our Armed Forces.
