Wirral Council leader says the borough stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine

Wirral Council's leader says the borough stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace made the announcement of the refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy, which outlined ambitions to transform naval procurement, during a visit to Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird Shipyard.

Cllr Williamson said: “This announcement is welcome and hopefully an indication that Wirral, with its proud and lengthy maritime history, will be one of the key areas that will benefit from the strategy, with new measures such as better access to finance and opportunities to build crucial skills.

“We will continue to work closely with Cammell Laird and other local industry leaders to capitalise on the employment and apprentice opportunities, and by using the supply chain to carry on driving the local social value benefits within our communities.

”The Government says it plans for more than 150 new commercial and naval vessels to be delivered through this strategy across the next 30 years and I want to see Wirral and the Liverpool City Region be at the front of the queue to be involved in delivering this.

“This announcement also ties in with the work we are doing as a local authority, and with partners, to revitalise Birkenhead and the surrounding area with one of the biggest regeneration programmes in decades. We are moving forward with ambitious and achievable plans to put the town back on the map, and using this transformation to put significant emphasis on providing investment and work for the people of the borough and directing wealth and opportunities into the local economy through the regeneration.”