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Neston MP Calls For Greater Support for Vauxhall

Published: 3rd November 2017 12:41

Ellesmere Port & Neston MP Justin Madders is demanding action from the Government to support Vauxhall and the automotive sector ahead of the Autumn Budget.

Justin Madders MP. Photo by Bernard Rose

In a private meeting with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark MP, Justin emphasised the strategic importance of the manufacturing sector and the need for an interventionist approach from Government if the UK is to compete with the likes of Germany and France.

He called upon the Government to support the long-standing aspiration to bring more of the supply chain to Ellesmere Port, which would reduce costs and boost efficiency, as well as delivering a number of skilled jobs to the local economy.

In a separate move, Mr Madders has written to the country's 41 Police and Crime Commissioners to encourage them to procure British manufactured vehicles. Cheshire Constabulary came under fire when it moved from locally made Vauxhall Astras to Hyundais, which are manufactured overseas. He is pushing for social impact to be given much greater consideration when purchasing decisions are made.

Commenting, Justin Madders said: "The Ellesmere Port factory remains of one of the most efficient of its kind anywhere in Europe, but when we are competing against other countries, we need more than just a highly skilled and productive workforce.

"The countries with whom we are competing pull out all the stops to support their manufacturing industries, including offering incentives to relocate the supply chain and working with the owners to optimise the local infrastructure. It's also much more common to see the public sector purchasing in a way that supports local jobs in other countries than our own.

"Ministers can't afford to just sit on their hands and hope for the best any longer, a modern economy demands an active Government with a positive industrial strategy. I will continue to press the Chancellor to deliver the measures in the budget that our local area needs if it is to thrive. The budget later this month is the opportunity for the Government to show by its actions, not just words, that it supports British manufacturing."

 

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