WIRRAL MP Margaret Greenwood has accused the Government of 'inactivity' in failing to prevent Vauxhall from cutting 400 jobs at its Ellesmere Port plant.

On Sunday the firm announced that jobs will go as part of a "voluntary separation programme" by the end of this year.

Vauxhall, which has made the Astra at the Cheshire plant since 1979, said "challenging European market conditions and a declining passenger car market" were behind the decision.

Raising the issue during a debate in Parliament, Ms Greenwood, who is also shadow employment minister, highlighted government's failure to invest in infrastructure and the development of sites like that at Ellesmere Port.

She also highlighted the impact of the uncertainty over Brexit on businesses like Vauxhall's French owners PSA.

She said: "Many of my constituents work at the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port and they will be devastated by the threat of redundancies in the run up to Christmas.

"I am urging the government to do all it can even at this late stage to try to prevent job losses.

"PSA stated that clarity on the UK's future trading relationship with the EU was needed before the company would be in a position to consider future investment at Vauxhall.

"80% of the cars made at Ellesmere Port are exported to other European Union states and 75% of the value of each car is imported.

"In a debate on the future of the Nissan plant in Sunderland last October the Business Secretary pledged the government to work with the car industry to ensure that more businesses in supply chains are located close to major manufacturing sites like Vauxhall by upgrading sites and investing in infrastructure.

"There is enormous scope for development in the immediate area around the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port.

"He also said that in negotiations to leave the EU, the government would work to ensure that trade between us and the EU can be free and un-encumbered by impediments.

"However, a little under a year later the government appears to have made no progress in promoting investment and the talks on Brexit are stalled with government ministers openly at war with each other.

"Funding for investment in rail links in the North West and other parts of Northern England has been announced, withdrawn and then re-announced.

"The £300m that the Chancellor has now found is still small beer compared to the £15 billion cost of Crossrail in London.

"There should be a concerted strategy across government to drive industrial development.

"There is also an urgent need for ministers to stop arguing and realise that for the UK to leave the EU in March 2019 without concluding a deal would be a disaster for jobs and the UK economy as a whole.

"Government ministers have plenty to say to each other about Brexit, but little new to say about how to support manufacturing at plants like Ellesmere Port.

"The workers at Vauxhall’s deserve better."

Related story:

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/15600604.Wirral_councillors_back_notice_of_motion_to_fight_Vauxhall_job_cut_plans/