Hull MP demands help for BAE workers and Humber jobs

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has called for the Government to help BAE workers and the Humber economy following BAE System's announcement of 899 job losses at Brough.

Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "Both the substance and manner of today's announcement from BAE Systems of 899 job losses in Brough were a disgrace. As Ed Miliband has rightly said, BAE workers have been sold down the river.

"The knock-on effect in our local economy could be terrible and comes alongside the job losses in the public services and difficulties in sectors such as construction. The most recent official figures showed 90 job-seekers already chasing each vacancy in my Hull North Constituency.

"The Government has talked about 'rebalancing the economy', from the South East to the North, from financial services to modern manufacturing, from imports to exports, and from public to private sector jobs. The private sector is the Coalition's stated hope for growth and deficit reduction. How will today's news help that?

"For decades, BAE Systems has provided skilled private sector jobs in modern manufacturing that our local economy needs, in an industry that is of strategic importance to the UK's defences. These should be the sort of jobs we keep and nurture if 'rebalancing' means anything.

"Whatever the impact of Ministry of Defence cuts and the hostile Lib Dem position on the Typhoon Fighter may have had on BAE's efforts to win export orders, we now need to work to minimise the long-term damage to the Humber economy.

"Although I'm sure that many BAE workers will make great efforts to get alternative work, it's a bad sign that the initial response today from one Government Minister only mentioned BAE workers seeking job opportunities elsewhere in the country. Being serious about 'rebalancing the economy' means that suitable jobs will exist in the Humber area.

"There's much that the Government can do to help these BAE workers and the Humber economy. For example, they could extend the Humber Estuary Enterprise Zone beyond the planned area to include Brough.

"Humber MPs from both parties will be doing all that we can during BAE's consultation period to stress the strategic importance to our national security of keeping a viable defence industry and jobs in our region, alongside the new jobs that we hope to see from Siemens."