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Articles about ‘West Midlands’

THREATENED CLOSURE OF GKN AEROSPACE KINGS NORTON

In PMQs today, I asked the Prime Minister to tell Melrose PLC she expects them to abide by the spirit and letter of the promises they made last year to back UK manufacturing, and not reduce GKN’s capacity as a defence contractor:

Closure Threat to GKN Aerospace Kings Norton

My press release today in response to announcement on future of the GKN Aerospace factory in Kings Norton:

 

CLOSURE OF GKN AEROSPACE KINGS NORTON A BREACH OF FAITH SAYS MP

Richard Burden MP has described as a “breach of faith” the announcement by GKN Aerospace that its Kings Norton factory in his constituency is to close with the loss of over 170 jobs. The factory produces high performance windscreens and windows for both civilian and military aircraft. The company says that the factory will be run down over the next two years with its work being transferred to “other GKN Aerospace sites or low cost areas”.

Last year the future of GKN was the subject of intense debate when Melrose Industries successfully mounted a hostile takeover bid for the company, prompting fears that it would undermine the UK’s manufacturing base in key areas such as aerospace and automotive. In response, Melrose made a series of undertakings to reassure the Takeover Panel of its commitment to UK manufacturing. In a letter to Rachel Reeves MP, Chair of the Commons Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on 13th March 2018, Melrose Chief Executive, Simon Peckham said his company’s commitments included:

“Returning GKN to be a British Manufacturing powerhouse, competitive on the global stage”;

“Committed to innovation investing in skills, R&D, and productivity to support the Industrial Strategy”; and

“Working with suppliers and customers to boost Britain’s Industrial base and the wider economy” [See note 1]

Richard Burden said today:

“Barely a year has passed since Melrose were falling over themselves to tell everybody how committed they were to UK manufacturing, but their words ring hollow today. Not only do they want to close a UK plant which is a key part of the supply chain for the aviation industry but their warning that production could move to “low-cost areas” means they plan to shift this specialised work out of the UK altogether.

In the light of the legally-binding undertakings Melrose gave to him last year I will be asking the Business Secretary to make urgent approaches to GKN about its latest announcement.

Whether or not the closure of GKN Aerospace breaches the letter of those undertakings, it runs contrary to the impression that Melrose sought to give of its intentions at the time. It is a breach of faith with GKN employees, with my constituents and with UK manufacturing as a whole.”

ENDS

  1. A letter from the Chief Executive of Melrose Industries to the Business, Energy and Industrial Select Committee regarding the takeover of GKN Aerospace can be found here.
  2. Richard Burden is MP for Birmingham Northfield. More information about Richard can be found on his website: http://richardburden.com/

 

 

KNIFE CRIME

Knife crime is nothing short of a national emergency and the Government need to treat it as such. Yesterday I said they should listen to Labour’s and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposals for an emergency funding package so that we can address this problem in a consistent and effective way. My question to the Home Secretary here:

CRIME AND POLICING MEETING

Last week, I held a meeting on crime and policing in response to resident concerns in Frankley and Great Park. Thanks to everyone who joined West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and the Longbridge Neighbourhood Police Team and for letting us know your views. Thanks also to B31 Voices for live-reporting from the meeting.

Some useful ideas came out of the meeting about initiatives we can take locally – including encouraging more people to get involved with Longbridge Neighbourhood Watch. We also discussed how local Streetwatch initiatives can help keep communities safe (see more here – https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/get-involved). Police Community Support Officers can help local people who may be interested in setting up a Streetchwatch in their neighbourhood so please email me if you are interested.

It is also vital, however, that our Police get the resources they need to do their job. This is what I said at the meeting about the impact of cuts and cash shortfall facing West Midlands Police. ‬Along with other Labour MPs I will continue to press the Government to give West Midlands Police a fairer funding deal.

Here is a video to give you a sense of what I said and what was discussed at the meeting –

PRESSING GOVERNMENT ON PROBLEMS WITH UNIVERSAL CREDIT

The introduction of Universal Credit is causing real hardship, increased debt and rocketing numbers turning to food banks in Birmingham. What are Ministers doing to sort it out? My question in the House of Commons: