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Johnny Mercer "Let Down" By Axed Jobs At Devonport

Former Army Captain and Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer has said he feels "let down" by the news that 500 jobs will be axed at Devonport Naval Base.

The dockyard’s operator Babcock International Group PLC has said that its management structure will be changed to become “more agile and flexible” in the future.

Union officials will consult with Babcock immediately in order to come up with a plan going forward.

A message for #Plymouth at the end of a sad day for jobs in our City. It is not acceptable that we can be led up the garden path around jobs/a growing Royal Navy, and have announcements like this with no warning. Commitment to our City only hardens on days like today. pic.twitter.com/CVpcbKFMMd
— Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerUK) March 8, 2018

Johnny Mercer, who is currently on a Defence Select Committee trip to Washington, tweeted his response overnight saying he knew nothing about the plans, despite having spoken to Babcock 10 days ago.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for the families, I'm so sorry for the city.

"When [HMS] Ocean went I said that there were no jobs going down at the dockyard and then we get this announcement two weeks later, you're perfectly entitled to think that I am losing my marbles.

"All I would say is that I get that information from the Ministry of Defence. I don't make these things up and on this one I have been let down and made to look pretty stupid."

Really disappointed to hear the news today of the job losses in Devonport, and disappointed with the way it’s been handled, for which I apologise. I return in 24hrs; we will do all we can. pic.twitter.com/39iEJwprGT
— Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerUK) March 7, 2018

A spokesman for Babcock said:

“We have been undertaking a review of our operations at Devonport Royal Dockyard over the last twelve months, to ensure that as a business we remain competitive and are well set-up to win new work in the future, with the right people, with the right skills in the right place at the right time.

“Following an initial phase of restructuring in 2017, we need to continue with the programme to flatten our management structure and reduce by around 500 positions.

“By doing this we will become more agile and flexible to respond to the fast-moving and changing environment we work within.“

"This is a necessary step in sustaining our future business.

"However we recognise that this is a worrying time for those colleagues who are affected by these changes and our priority is now to work with our Trade Union representatives and those individuals throughout the coming consultation period.”