Editorial

摘要

Amid all the surprises in the recent snap general election it may have escaped readers' attention that the United Kingdom now has a shipbuilder as a Member of Parliament. Paul Sweeney, elected to the Glasgow North East constituency, is the son of a Clyde shipbuilder and was a shipbuilder himself, having worked at BAE Systems on the Queen Elizabeth class carriers. Not only that, but he is also a passionate heritage campaigner who played a leading role in developing the Fairfield Heritage Centre. It is rare enough to have an MP who knows anything about maritime history, but to have one who also knows the shipbuilding industry from the inside is exceptional. I had the pleasure of being guided round the BAE Systems Govan yard by him a few years ago and was struck by the knowledge and passion he had for the industry and its history. There are early signs that he will bring this to bear in parliament. Among his first acts as an MP were to sponsor early day motions that highlighted a heritage award for the renovation of the old Fairfield shipyard offices and to congratulate the Aircraft Carrier Alliance on the successful commencement of sea trials of HMS Queen Elizabeth.