MEP Derek Clark hits out after British jobs lost

From: Derek Clark MEP
Published: Tue Jul 05 2011


As hundreds of workers reel from the shock of losing their jobs, MEP Derek Clark accused the Government of again letting down British workers.

Engineering firm Bombardier has confirmed almost 1,500 jobs will be axed at its Derby factory, the last train manufacturing plant in Britain.

The firm announced the cuts after losing out on a lucrative contract to build new Thameslink trains. The Government gave the contract to a consortium led by German rival Siemens, the company at the centre of EU Parliamentary questions earlier this year over its practices.

East Midlands UKIP MEP Derek Clark said: "Yet again, this Government, following in the footsteps of its past governments, has let down British workers.

"Whatever happened to British jobs for British workers?

"This is terrible news for Derbyshire and for the region and country as a whole. Derbyshire has a proud tradition of manufacturing trains and this is regrettable news.

"Workers will not easily find a comparable job near home and have been let down by successive governments which have not made better efforts to retain manufacturing in this country and have simply caved in to EU pressure.

"While we are in the EU we cannot do anything about competition rules and we cannot do anything to stop manufacturers going elsewhere."

The firm said 446 permanent positions and 986 contract roles would be affected by the decision.

Mr Clark said the news followed the revelation Northampton engineering firm Cosworth is to lose its biggest Formula 1 client to Renault.
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