Defence Secretary visits Scotland
16 Apr 2014 10:16 AM
Philip Hammond was in Scotland yesterday
visiting Scottish veterans, and workers at Thales Optronics in
Glasgow.
Whilst at Thales, Mr Hammond spoke about his belief that
Scotland is stronger within the United Kingdom and that the UK is stronger with
Scotland within it. He said:
What we have is precious. It is our shared history, our
common values and our unity of purpose which makes us what we are today. It is
Scotland which makes the UK united, and adds the ‘Great’ to Great
Britain.
The
UK armed forces are “drawn from the 4 corners of these islands”,
the Defence Secretary explained, working together across the world to keep the
country and its people safe and secure. He said that nothing “epitomises
more the strength we derive from being a United Kingdom than the men and women
in our navy, army and air force, coming together with this common
purpose”.
Mr
Hammond reiterated the economic importance of the UK defence industry in
Scotland, which employs around 12,600 people and generates sales in excess of
£1.8 billion, which would face an uncertain future should Scotland gain
independence. He went on to talk about how this year holds particular
historical significance to defence with the centenary of the start of
the First World War.
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