Union Unite has stated defending jobs in the defence sector is its "priority" after a motion to back Trident's renewal was defeated at the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in Dundee.

Motion 113, which supported renewing the nuclear deterrent programme, was defeated during a debate at the STUC yesterday, 20 April.

Pat Rafferty, leader of Unite, said: "Unite's policy is abundantly clear on the matter of Trident.  Defending the jobs and communities of our members in defence is our priority.

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"The policy voted through at today's (20 April) STUC does not fully reflect Unite's commitment to ensure that our members' livelihoods are protected. We therefore could not support the position agreed at Congress, and will continue to fight to defend every Scottish defence job.

"The skills, productivity and ingenuity defence workers possess are why they are essential to our manufacturing capabilities and why we have been seeking firm commitments that defence spending ensures that taxpayers' money goes to support UK defence workers.

"This is not the case at the moment with 12 pence in every pound, and soon to be 25 pence in every pound, supporting overseas defence jobs. We want that money used here to support our members' jobs in shipbuilding and defence manufacturing."

(LM)