EDUCATION Minister Liz Truss said yesterday in the House of Commons that there was a “persuasive case” for the 480 civil service jobs at Mowden Hall to remain in Darlington.

This feels like a significant step forward in the campaign to keep the jobs in the town. Could a minister back pedal from a “persuasive case” and decide that these jobs are to be relocated to Newcastle?

The importance of the jobs was shown by Darlington MP Jenny Chapman’s new figures which suggest that they are worth £21m-a-year to the local economy.

They are also vital to the profile of the town – any town needs as varied a workforce as possible; no town wants to lose its most skilled workers.

And, as Ms Chapman said in the Commons yesterday, surely no employer wants to see its skilled workforce broken up. But if experienced people find their jobs relocated 40 miles from their homes, some of them will retire, others will gradually find more convenient work elsewhere and within a few years, the Department of Education would find its well functioning team disappearing.

And yet Darlington does have suitable alternatives to the old hall at Mowden, which the Government says is too expensive to maintain.

That, then, makes up Darlington’s “persuasive case”.

Despite Ms Truss’ encouraging words, the campaign is not yet won.

Public opinion will continue to be important.

Education ministers need to know that there will be uproar if they reject Darlington’s persuasive case.

Therefore we urge as many people as possible to sign the Save Our Jobs petition on The Northern Echo’s website – northernecho.co.uk/jobspetition