News from Southampton Labour

Southampton MPs secure limited guarantee on Ford Plant

Alan Whitehead MP, along with other MPs from the Southampton area, today met with senior managers of Ford Europe to discuss the future of the Ford Swaythling Plant. Coming out of that meeting, Ford has guaranteed production of at least 35,000 chassis cabs at the Southampton plant until after 2011.

Dr Whitehead said:

“This is very limited good news insofar as there will definitely still be a Ford Plant operating to some extent after 2011. But this is a far cry from the production levels of the plant in the past.

“I hope over the next month or so we can work with Ford and the government to see how this guarantee can be built on to protect as many jobs in Southampton as possible.”

Dr Whitehead has in the past called on the Leader of the House of Commons to find time for a full debate on the “on safeguarding the production of transit vehicles at the Ford Southampton plant” and also co-sponsored Early Day Motion 2180 to increase support for the Ford Southampton Plant.

The EDM reads:

* That this House notes with concern the proposed downsizing of the Ford Motor Company’s Southampton plant when a new model is introduced to replace the existing Transit;

* urges Ford to reconsider this decision in the light of the impact that this would have upon jobs in the Home of the Transit, more widely in the travel to work area and on the many component suppliers of the plant across the country;

* urges senior management to reconsider its plans in the light of the sharp fall in the pound over the period since they were formulated and in the light of the leading contribution that vehicle manufacture makes in maintaining the skilled engineering base of the nation;

* and welcomes statements by Ministers that they would be willing to meet Ford Motor Company to discuss legitimate assistance in ensuring the competitiveness of the plant.

Other news from Southampton Labour

• We must keep investing to help everyone back into work – Labour MPs - 10 March 2010
• Alan Whitehead MP calls for support for hardworking carers - 8 March 2010
• Whitehead pledges to continue the fight against fuel poverty - 8 March 2010