AN urgent parliamentary debate to discuss the future of Vauxhall was secured yesterday by Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders.

The debate is due to take place today (Tuesday, March 20) during which Mr Madders hopes to seek support for the future of the Vauxhall plant from the Department for Business.

After seeking certainty about the Government’s plans for the automotive sector after Brexit on a number of occasions in the last couple of weeks, the MP is looking to press the Business Minster for more detail during the thirty minute debate.

It comes after it was announced over the festive period that 650 jobs will be lost from the 1,900 strong workforce.

Mr Madders said: “Whilst it is a year until we will actually leave the European Union, businesses are making decisions about their future plans now, so it is important that they are able to understand what the Government’s plans are.

“The plant in Ellesmere Port only has work guaranteed until 2021 and the decision about whether to manufacture a new model there will be made in the near future.”

He said that in the past few weeks he had asked the Prime Minister, the International Trade Secretary, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and the Business Secretary to provide more clarity about the kind of deal that the Government is seeking for the automotive sector but had received “no further detail”.

Mr Madders said: “I am not asking the Government to reveal their full negotiating position publicly, but at the very least they need to privately discuss the direction of travel with key manufacturers like Vauxhall.

“They also need to listen to what has been said about steps the Government can put in place to make the plant more cost effective; and from business rates to energy costs and the supply chain, there is an awful lot more in terms of initiatives that the Government can support to help the plant.

“Part of my pitch will be to encourage the Government to get involved with some of these proposals; every little bit will help secure its future.”

He added: “The town of Ellesmere Port has grown alongside Vauxhall Motors; it’s is a huge part of our community, economically as well as socially. The warning signs are there that we need positive Government intervention as soon as possible.

“If these jobs are lost they won’t be coming back; permanent quality skilled jobs in manufacturing are vital if we are to have a vibrant local economy in the future. For the sake of everyone connected with the plant we need to end the uncertainty.”