Engineers on new Navy warship that’s £250m over budget & year behind schedule find time to down tools for Elvis karaoke

ENGINEERS aboard a Royal Navy warship beset by delays and spiralling costs downed tools for an Elvis Presley karaoke session. HMS Glasgow, a £1billion Type-26 anti-submarine frigate, is a year behind schedule and £250million over budget. HMS Glasgow has been beset by delays and spiralling costs – it has been pushed back to 2028 Credit: Andrew Barr Engineers on board the Royal Navy ship found time for an Elvis Presley karaoke session Credit: Supplied It was due to enter operational service next year, until the date was pushed back to October 2028. But construction staff still found time on shift to belt out The King’s 1972 hit, Burning Love. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Video footage shows one crooner wearing an Elvis wig, shades and gold chains as co-workers sing along. In a second clip, the same worker dresses as American country singer, Kenny Rogers, for a stuttering rendition of his 1978 No 1 hit single The Gambler. Video footage shows one crooner wearing an Elvis wig, shades and gold chains Credit: Supplied Management are said to have been aware of the clips and were ‘trying to keep it under wraps’ Credit: Supplied Pals can be heard laughing as he struggles to read the lyrics from the karaoke autocue in front of two mobile disco lights. A source said: “It’s funny to watch, but it’s definitely not right given it’s a taxpayer-funded job that is already a year behind schedule and way over budget. “Senior management have been aware of the videos for over a month and have been desperately trying to keep it under wraps. “They knew it was only a matter of time before it leaked out.” Most read in The Sun The workers are employed by BAE Systems at the firm’s Scotstoun shipyard on the River Clyde in Glasgow. BAE was awarded the £7.9billion contract to build eight of the City-class frigates for the Royal Navy. Work on the first, HMS Glasgow, began in July 2017, followed by HMS Cardiff and HMS Belfast, with five more due to join the fleet later. But supply chain issues, the Covid pandemic and staff walkouts over pay have led to repeated delays. HMS Glasgow received its blessing from the Princess of Wales in May last year Credit: Andrew Barr She was accompanied by Prince William as she formally named the ship Credit: Andrew Barr The City-class Type 26 frigates will partially replace the Type-23s to act as the Navy’s “shield and sword” against hostile submarines. HMS Glasgow received its blessing from the Princess of Wales in May last year. Accompanied by Prince William, she smashed a bottle of whisky against the hull and formally named the ship. BAE Systems said: “These brief incidents took place at the end of the employees’ lunch break. “They don’t take away from the professionalism, commitment and hard work our workforce demonstrates.” Comment now