Vauxhall s Luton plant is now under threat. Closure would mean the loss of 2,000 jobs, and an estimated 20,000 further people could find themselves out of work as a result. However, the Transport and General Workers Union, the biggest union in Vauxhall, is committed to fighting the closure.
Manufacturing is vital to a healthy economy.
It creates jobs in transport, energy supply, catering, cleaning, commerce and communications. It provides customers for shops, financial services companies, estate agents and the service industries generally. And it creates the wealth necessary to sustain our health, education, welfare and other public services. Harlow has lost much of its manufacturing base. Recent job losses announced at Nortel show the trend continuing.