Prisoners could soon be used to build the UK's warships under a bombshell scheme to help cover-up glaring gaps in the UK workforce. Keir Starmer's Labour Government is reportedly considering plans to recruit young offenders to fill a skills-gap hole in the UK defence industry in a mover that could see five thousand welding vacancies in the sector filled by prisoners and ex-offenders with a criminal conviction as part of a proposed apprenticeship scheme.

It comes as the UK and European allies move to bolster their forces and significantly increase defence spending amid concerns over the threat posed by Russia. This year, the Government has already announced what it says is the biggest rise in defence spending since the Cold War, while the UK is also close to securing a deal to supply all of Scandinavia with warships in a major boost to the British defence sector. Reports say the suggested apprenticeship scheme would run over four years with industry insiders concerned a skills shortfall could impact the Government's defence plans.

According to The i Paper which broke the story, the proposals are under consideration by Government officials and have received a positive reception from the Ministry of Justice.

The apprenticeship scheme has been put forward by trade body Made UK Defence and the Fair Chance Business Alliance which helps offenders into employment.

It is reported the scheme would focus on towns and cities with a major defence industry presence such as Glasgow and Barrow-in-Furness.

Non-violent young offenders who go through the scheme could go on to work as welders on build projects like warships, reports The i Paper.

Andrew Kinniburgh, director of Make UK Defence which represents 700 firms, told the outlet: “We want the Ministry of Justice and the MoD to discuss this and try and work out a scheme whereby we can take people with criminal records and put them into the defence industry.

“That will enable people like BAE Systems, Babcock and others to not have to rigidly apply those rules of having nobody on site with criminal records.

“The biggest challenge is building submarines and ships. That’s where the big gaps are in terms of labour. So it would be more likely probably be in the shipyards, both Barrow-in-Furness and up on the Clyde.”

It is hoped the scheme could help reduce the reliance on overseas workers and combat an ageing workforce.

Made UK Defence says it has held two meetings with Number 10 officials and hope to get the scheme running by the end of this year.

The Express has contacted the MoD for a comment.