Former shipyard boss rules out building wind turbines in Barrow

As the debate over whether Britain should have a continuous at sea nuclear deterrent continues, with the government's final decision due to be made later this year, the former managing director has given his thoughts on the arguments being put forward to scrap the Trident weapons programme. 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is known for his anti-nuclear stance, which is firmly at odds with that of Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, who backs the business which employs a large number of his constituents. 

Earlier this week, shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry quizzed submarine lobbyists on the prospect of Barrow's shipyard's skills being transferred to the subsea oil and gas sector while Green Party leader Natalie Bennett spoke about switching production to wind turbines or flood defences. 

Having been at the helm during one of the most challenging times the shipyard has faced in recent history, Murray knows only too well what the consequences can be to delaying a submarine programme. 

He was brought in to rescue the Astute programme - £700m over budget and three years behind schedule, and succeeded in turning the business around to set it on target to deliver the Royal Navy's newest submarine class. 

But as he reveals, the Trident debate isn't the first time the possibility of building wind turbines in Barrow has been raised. 

"We did look at the manufacture of wind turbines, even on a build to print basis, but they are relatively low-tech and there are companies that are hugely expert," he said. 

"You could do it but can you be competitive and employ anything like the number of people the shipyard employs now? No. 

"We also looked at whether it would be possible for the government to assist and state a preference for any wind turbines installed in Britain to be sourced from us. But because of EU rules, the government can't do that. In any case it wasn't looked at as an alternative, but as a diversification to supplement capability during times of spare capacity."

Murray points out that the design capability of the shipyard simply wouldn't be necessary to build the alternatives put forward. 

"The engineering capability is very focused on complex warships, of which there are no more complex than nuclear submarines," he added. 

"You wouldn't need all those people to build wind turbines. They say a nuclear submarine is as complex as a space shuttle, and it is."

Politics remains a taboo subject within the shipyard hierarchy - voicing an opinion is rarely done - even by the outspoken Murray. 

"When I was in the yard my thoughts on politics were irrelevant," he said. 

"I had a role and that role was to ensure that the policy of the government was fulfilled as efficiently as we could in the shipyard."

But now, Murray speaks out about the "real and present danger" faced by Britain and the role Barrow must play in defending the nation.

"People surmise that X or Y will be a threat but while I'm not knowledgeable about international affairs to that level, I do know the world is sufficiently insecure it is sensible to maintain the deterrent," he said. 

"A submarine is the best way of doing so and those with operational expertise have assessed that you need four boats to maintain a continuous at sea deterrent. We need to continue to do this for the long-term security until people like Jeremy Corbyn and the Green Party can better convince us that there is no no very real and present danger to this country or our allies."

Although he no longer lives in South Cumbria, the Glaswegian is always happy to wax lyrical about his adopted hometown. 

"I am proud of the many good people in Barrow," he said. 

In his final signing-off to shipyard workers following his shock resignation, Murray described how at the beginning of his tenure at the helm in Barrow, he had set himself a personal objective that the company would become one of the best shipbuilding businesses in the world. 

Whether you loved Murray or loathed him, few could argue that Barrow hasn't succeeded in achieving that impressive ambition.