Gordon Brown made a surprise appearance at yesterday's TUC conference to defend the government's record on manufacturing.

In a last-minute change to the schedule, the chancellor addressed delegates, insisting that EU figures understated the support the government gives to the sector.

"We are doing more than almost any other country to make sure there is new investment," he said.

His comments were echoed by trade secretary Patricia Hewitt.

"Tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs have gone in recent years," she said.

"But if you only talk about the job losses in manufacturing, you risk talking down the future of manufacturing and make it even harder to get young people coming into manufacturing."