Portsmouth City Council is celebrating a double victory in its 10-month campaign to keep its historic naval base open and secure up to 42,000 jobs (picture left). Defence secretary, Des Browne, announced last week, that Portsmouth Naval Base would be retained, following a national review. Mr Browne also gave the green light to the construction of two giant aircraft carriers that will be part-built in Portsmouth and could create up to 10,000 new jobs. The council launched a high-profile campaign to retain the base after it was widely anticipated that the Government would close it as part of its efficiency drive. The authority worked in partnership with the South East England Regional Development Agency, the Royal Navy, trade unions, local press and businesses to make the Government aware of the ‘compelling economic and social importance' of the base. ‘Last summer, when the naval base review was announced, the assumption across the MoD and the navy was that Portsmouth Naval Base would close,' said Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council. ‘The campaign that the council and all our partners have mounted has turned that decision around.'
