AN SNP MSP has accused the UK defence secretary Michael Fallon of a “blatant betrayal” of Scottish shipyard workers over delays to the start date for work on the new Type 26 frigate fleet on the Clyde.

The project to build the eight new frigates on the Clyde was promised before the 2014 independence referendum, but the programme has been hit by delays leading to SNP claims that UK Tory ministers are reneging on that pledge.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd has written to the UK Government demanding clarity after Fallon claimed that the delayed Type 26 frigates were intended to protect Trident – despite the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stating that the current fleet of ships are “typically found east of Suez” or in the South Atlantic.

Workers at Glasgow shipyards have raised fears that the delay of the construction of the Type 26 frigates would cause job losses – with the UK Government already cutting the expected order by 40 per cent.

In an interview, Fallon admitted “we are still negotiating the contract” – before claiming that “the eight anti-submarine frigates are to protect the (Trident) deterrent”.

Kidd said Fallon and Conservative Government had badly let down Clyde shipbuilding workers by causing uncertainty about their future employment

The SNP MSP for Glasgow Anniesland said Fallon was talking “nonsense” with his claim that the delayed Type 26 frigates were intended to protect Trident.

Kidd said: “Shipbuilders on the Clyde are already feeling badly let down by the Tories after news that the Type 26 orders are to be delayed – a blatant betrayal of the promises they were given during the 2014 referendum campaign.

“And the idea being put forward by Michael Fallon now that the new generation frigates is being built solely to protect Trident is self-evident nonsense – the Royal Navy itself says that the ships will be used for everything from counter piracy to disaster relief, as well as their role in combat.

“But if they are required to protect the UK’s nuclear submarines then it begs the questions why there are no major surface vessels based in Scotland – and why ships have had to be scrambled from Portsmouth when Russian vessels have entered UK waters in the past.”

The SNP MSP added: “Either Michael Fallon is being hugely disingenuous or Trident is currently being left without adequate protection, which would raise huge questions about the competence of the UK Government.

“This is not the first time Mr Fallon has demonstrated a shaky grasp of defence issues.

“But instead of these absurd attempts by the Defence Secretary to deflect from his own failures, it’s time that the UK Government lived up to the promises they’ve made to Scottish shipbuilders.”

Fallon had said a start date had yet to be announced because the MoD was still negotiating the contract with shipbuilders BAE Systems.

The defence secretary previously said: “We are still negotiating the contract. You will recall in the past that ships and submarines have been delivered late and over budget.

“I am determined this time to tie BAE Systems down to a contract that’s good value for the taxpayer and absolutely delivers the ships on the date we need them.

“That negotiation is still going on and as soon as it is finished we will announce the date.”

Fallon went on to argue that the SNP’s anti-Trident stance meant their criticisms of the delay to the project were hypocritical. A key role of the Type 26 frigates would be to protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent, he claimed.

Responding to the SNP’s claims, last night an MoD spokesman restated the UK Government’s position that Type 26 frigates had been designed for a nuclear defence role.

The MoD spokesman said: “The T26s are primarily designed to protect our nuclear deterrent and the two new aircraft carriers. They will replace ships that have helped ensure our submarines have remained undetected for over 50 years.”