Labour’s Iain Gray said the carrier contracts supported thousands of jobs Scottish ministers and opposition politicians have joined forces in an effort to secure the future of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
Looming Ministry of Defence cuts led to speculation the carriers may not be constructed on the Clyde and at Rosyth.
First Minister Alex Salmond is to take part in a ministerial meeting on the issue, while Labour’s Iain Gray warned of the potential loss of many jobs.
The Conservatives stressed no decisions had been made.
Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, a Lib Dem MP, has stressed the economic need for retaining the carriers to ministerial colleagues.
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The Scottish government is now preparing a submission on the issue, and called on all parties to contribute.
Deputy Scottish Conservative leader Murdo Fraser described any budget reductions as “Labour cuts”, adding that a UK defence review would have gone ahead regardless of who won the General Election.
As the UK government seeks to cut the spending deficit, Defence Secretary Liam Fox aims to save money in procurement and administration while prioritising front-line operations.
His emphasis on the need for much closer working with key European allies has led to speculation that plans for two new aircraft carriers by 2018 – costing £5bn – could be scaled back.
The future of Scottish RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss, in Moray, could also be in doubt and the Scottish secretary has said he could give “no guarantees” about their fate.
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