15 October 2010

JLR: Good news for the West Midlands -

Jaguar Land Rover announced this morning that all three of their UK plants will be retained – including both the Castle Bromwich and Solihull plants in the West Midlands. This is great news and I am pleased that an agreement has been reached between the company and the trade unions.

JLR is one of the central foundations of the motor industry in the West Midlands. The company plays a key role in maintaining the skill base right across the Midlands – not only in JLR plants, but also in the wider supply and component industries.

With both plants secure, investment and new jobs over the next decade and the potential of exciting new models, this is good news for manufacturing and good news for the West Midlands.

I also appeal to the government, as they make their decisions in the weeks and months ahead, to think about the impact their actions will have on manufacturing and to remember its importance to the West Midlands and the economy as a whole.