KELVIN HOPKINS MP SPEAKS UP FOR VAUXHALL IN HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE

Luton North MP, Kelvin Hopkins spoke in a Debate on manufacturing in the House of Commons last week and called for Government help to persuade General Motors to reverse its decision on closing the car plant in Luton.

Stephen Byers MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, said he was talking to General Motors, which Kelvin Hopkins welcomed, but believed the Government should go further in intervening in the manufacturing sector to sustain not just motor manufacturing, but steel production and other industries in Britain. Kelvin drew attention to an article from the Guardian newspaper last week which said that governments should intervene with assistance or “kiss industry goodbye”.

In his speech, Kelvin Hopkins said: “I have written to my Hon Friend the Secretary of State trying to convince him that to use Government efforts and even Government money to persuade Vauxhall to reverse its decision and stay in Luton. The short term cost of sustaining Vauxhall's car manufacturing in Luton would be far less than the cost of letting it go, in terms of extra benefits payments, the loss to the manufacturing sector and the effect on the balance of trade. ……I want to see not just Vauxhalls saved but the whole motor manufacturing sector boosted by short term government assistance and appropriate macro-economic policies to make sure that the industry is sustained.”

Kelvin Hopkins contrasted the savage destruction of manufacturing industry by the Tories, in the deepest recessions since the Second World War, in 1979 –1981 and 1992. Millions of jobs in manufacturing had been lost at that time, but Labour had created a million new jobs, bringing unemployment down to the lowest level for over 20 years. Manufacturing investment was higher than during the last year of the previous Tory government and output was up, but much more needed to be done. The Tories had shown contempt for manufacturing and their hands off, free market approach had led to millions of job losses. Under Labour the economy had done well in most sectors, but manufacturing had done less well and needed more support.