Lib Dem conference plea on manufacturing
March 15, 2010 9:31 AM
"We need a balanced economy to create jobs and wealth, relying on the financial services sector is not sufficient," says Councillor Jerry Evans.
Liberal Democrats meeting in Birmingham over the weekend heard an impassioned plea from Birmingham Councillor Jerry Evans to develop manufacturing industry to create a revitalised manufacturing sector in the UK:
"We need a balanced economy to create jobs and wealth, relying on the financial services sector is not sufficient."
"4.2 million jobs have been lost in manufacturing during the last 10 years - we now only employ 2.6 million people compared to 6.88 million in 1998."
"This situation needs to be urgently reversed if we are to take advantage of the opportunities in the new technologies of electric vehicle design & manufacture, hydrogen powered cars, wind turbines, solar panels and other sustainable products".
Praising the decision by Nanjing Automotive to locate their worldwide research & development site at the former Rover works at Longbridge Cllr Dr Evans said this is a vote of confidence in engineering & manufacturing in the UK by the Chinese owned company.
Cllr Evans added:
"It's a terrible shame that the current government has turned it's back on manufacturing and the thousands of people who want to work in this strategic high Tech & world class industry."
"Manufacturing remains highly important to the British Economy and there is no reason why we cannot continue to design, invent & produce the goods we use."
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