Time to help UK firms

Aug 3 2011 by Val Woan, Bromborough and Bebington News

CONSTITUENTS have contacted me about the Tory-led Government’s decision not to award the contract for the Thameslink rolling stock to Bombardier, who build trains in Britain.

Instead, the Secretary of State for Transport has awarded the contract to a company that will build these trains in Germany, dealing a body-blow to the UK rail manufacturing sector.

Bombardier is the only company that designs, builds, maintains and exports trains from the UK. The loss of this contract has led directly to the announcement of job losses and the company’s decision to review its entire UK operations.

Is the Government serious about UK manufacturing? Their cuts – coming too fast, and going too far - have scaled back Labour’s planned orders for new trains. Now they have passed up the opportunity to boost British manufacturing and help secure the jobs and growth the economy needs. The Prime Minister’s personal promise to support local manufacturing, made when he held his Cabinet in Derby, just three months ago, now looks hollow.

Labour has called on the government to review its decision and do everything possible to ensure that the Thameslink rolling stock contract benefits Britain’s manufacturing sector and the wider economy. And we will keep the pressure on ministers to do so.