º£½ÇÊÓÆµ

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Manufacturing

Targeted help needed for virus-hit automotive industry, Labour says

Shadow Business Minister Lucy Powell said businesses in the North and Midlands need more support

The Nissan plant at Sunderland(Image: Publicity handout from Nissan)

More help needs to be targeted at specific sectors of the economy such as the automotive industry in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Labour has said.

Shadow business minister Lucy Powell accused the Conservatives of “turning their back” on pledges to help areas where the vehicle manufacturing industry is concentrated, such as the North, Midlands, Wales and Yorkshire.

They include parts of the country where Labour lost ground heavily in the December general election.

Ms Powell said the automotive sector has been badly hit by the Covid-19 outbreak, stating that new car registrations were down 97% in April.

Labour said analysis by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found car production was down around 50% in June compared with the year before.

Ms Powell also called for support for the industry’s supply chain, as well as focus to be put on creating “green jobs” and ensuring the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ leads the way in decarbonisation.

The shadow minister said: “The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ’s world-leading automotive industry has been rocked by coronavirus and livelihoods are on the line.

“But ministers won’t listen to reason and are refusing to recognise some sectors have been hit harder than others.