10,000 manufacturing jobs at risk under Tories warns Unite.
At a prestigious conference on Britain’s future energy needs today (24th March), Derek Simpson joint general secretary for Unite will warn that under the Tories Britain would lose out on at least 10,000 skilled manufacturing jobs because David Cameron has no industrial policy for supporting British manufacturing.
Unite believes Britain’s energy needs creates huge opportunities for UK Engineering. The UK could become a global supply chain player, supplying equipment and components for all major energy projects including new nuclear, clean coal, carbon capture and offshore wind power.
Mr Simpson welcomed the Labour Government’s announcement last week to invest in Sheffield Forgemasters by giving them an £80m loan for manufacturing equipment for the nuclear industry. The investment is an example of how the Labour government is prepared to support British industry but warns that crucial investment to support the UK’s energy needs is under threat from the Tories who have no industrial policy to support UK manufacturing when Labour are making industrial activism a key element of its economic policy.
Unite, joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said:
“British manufacturing is on the cusp of a revolution, Labour is making industrial activism a key element of its economic policy but the Tories plan is to do nothing. Under Cameron the UK will lose out on 10,000 new manufacturing jobs. Our energy needs present opportunities to create thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs, if we play our cards right. Labour has already shown it is prepared to support British manufacturing.”
The Unite conference entitled Nuclear Energy – Our Present, Our Future at the Royal Society of Arts will be opened by Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, the keynote speaker will be The Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Other contributors include Vincent de Rivaz, CEO, EDF Energy; Denis Hugelmann, Senior Executive Vice-President, AREVA; Alan Parker, MD, Energy Solutions; and Tony Fountain, CEO, NDA.
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
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