The Deputy Prime Minister says the government is "in close contact" with the Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe to secure its future, months after they claimed it could be saved with "the stroke of a pen".
Angela Rayner says the government is "committed" to saving Hitachi as 750 jobs hang in the balance seven months after bosses admitted they were at “crisis point” due to an impending production gap.
Earlier this year, The Northern Echo urged the then-Conservative administration to step in and help Hitachi by extending a vital contract to secure the future of its Newton Aycliffe plant.
Then shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh claimed that Hitachi could be saved "with the stroke of a pen" yet no deal has been struck since Labour's election.
More recently, the Echo urged the Prime Minister to "keep his promise" to the factory, the region and readers to which they responded they are "working at pace".
In the commons today (October 23), Stockton North MP Chris McDonald asked: "Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the Stockton to Darlington Railway, but the actions of the previous Conservative government have jeopardised our modern-day rail industry, with hundreds of jobs at nearby Hitachi Rail at risk.
"Will my Right Honourable friend the Prime Minister join me, my Hon. Friend the Member for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, management, workers, and the trade unions, in leaving no stone unturned as we fight to secure a bright future for this world-leading factory?"
The Deputy Prime Minister responded: "(Mr McDonald) has been a champion for workers at Newton Aycliffe from day one. I know he has met with the transport secretary and I can assure him that we are in close contact with Hitachi on operations to secure a sustainable future for Newton Aycliffe.
"We are committed to a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock seeking to support British manufacturing and end the volatility of recent years."
Local leaders recently affirmed again that Hitachi is still very much a priority and echoed the Government's commitment to keeping the factory on track.
Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, last week said the future of the Hitachi, which employs around 700 workers in Newton Aycliffe, with many more in the supply chain relying on the factory for work, remains his 'number one priority'.
He said: "Tory dither and delay left the 700 jobs at the factory at risk.
“I’ve been working at pace to secure these fantastic local jobs. Since the election, I’ve held meetings with ministers and Hitachi, the latest of which was just this week in Parliament.
“I’m really pleased that the Department of Transport and Hitachi continue to be in active and constructive negotiations to find a solution to the production issue.”
However, Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen last week described the situation as "incredibly serious" and said Mr Starmer "made a promise he must keep".
Mr Houchen said: “This is incredibly serious. It has about 750 local jobs which impacts hard-working families, and the Government made a promise that it must keep.
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“I warned repeatedly, at the time, that the decision taken by the Labour North East Councils to outsource the Metro contracts to Switzerland, instead of staying local with Hitachi, was ludicrous, and it gives me no pleasure to have been proven right.
“It is my hope, that alongside the more sensible leadership we are seeing from Kim McGuinness in the North East, the government can stay true to its word and sort this hugely pressing issue out and quickly provide certainty.
“There can be no backsliding, they gave the workers at Hitachi their word and they must make good on this.”
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