550 jobs to go after shock decsion to close Swaythling plant

Ford workers after hearing news of the closure Ford workers after hearing news of the closure

Ford has confirmed that Southampton’s Transit plant is to shut.

The annoucement was made during a meeting between trade union bosses and Ford of Europe executives.

Workers at the Swaythling site were sent home for the day after being told that the plant would close on July 26 2013.

More than 500 Southampton workers are among 1400 in the UK to be cut as the company switches production to elsewhere in Europe.

This brings an end to vehicle production in Britain after 100 years and ends a long decline in the workforce of the plant which has been making Transit vans since 1972.

 

 

The site, which opened in 1953, has been operating with only one shift for the past three years as demand declined during the recession.

Last year it only made 26,000 vehicles.

Southampton City Council leader Richard Williams described the announcement as “dreadful”.

He said: “It is yet another kick in teeth for UK and Southampton plc.”

A knock on effect of the closure in Southampton will see the company’s stamping plant in Dagenham in Essex, which supplies parts for Southampton, losing 800 jobs.

In 2008 the Daily Echo joined business leaders and MPs in a campaign to save the plant.

This was sparked by a leaked memo about slashing output at the plant, which then employed 1,250, before moving production to Turkey.

A spirited fight to save the plant followed but that did not stem the job losses and decline in production - and today’s announcement that the Transit van, an iconic British product, will now be made in Turkey after all.

Politicians and business leaders have described the prospect of Ford leaving the city, where it has been producing vehicles since 1953, as “a tragedy.”

Workers at the factory today spoke of their shock at the closure plans.

Canteen assistant Sharon Tillett, 42, from Bursledon, said generations of her family had worked at the plant.

She added: ' I've been here 22 years and it's such a shock.

"I'm just really sad - a lot of my family has worked here, both my grandfathers worked here.

"I think the announcement will be that it's closing."

Another contractor at the factory said that the closure would effect hundreds of sub-contractors, as well as the 500-strong salaried work force.

The worker, who did not want to be named, added: "A lot of people that work here are contractors - at least 600.

"Then there's the impact on British suppliers around the country."

Chris Robson, 30, Ford quality inspector, Bedford Place, said: "it's mixed everyone's obviously sad. But all us just wanted the news - whether it was staying or shutting."

Mechanical engineeer Allan Rixon, 34, from Sarisbury Green, said: "There's a lot of upset people there.

"But they've been on about closing it for years. I think I'm in denial - I think another car manufacturer will come in and take over. It's just too much of a prime site."

Worker Joe King, 42, from Bitterne, said: "I can't believe it - it's come out of nowhere.

"We thought it was on track - this is an absolute blow."

• For all latest news and reaction to shock decision click here

• Click here for the history and background to the Ford factory

Why

 

Comments(56)

Brite Spark says...
4:56pm Thu 25 Oct 12

They've got a year to find another job, an excellent redundancy package and have already been trained for free in other trades at Ford's expense.
Some people find themselves out of work at no notice and with no redundancy or wages, it's not the personal tragedy that some would have us believe.
(Sells newspapers I suppose though).

Stillness says...
5:56pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Brite Spark wrote:
They've got a year to find another job, an excellent redundancy package and have already been trained for free in other trades at Ford's expense.
Some people find themselves out of work at no notice and with no redundancy or wages, it's not the personal tragedy that some would have us believe.
(Sells newspapers I suppose though).
Duck!

S Pance says...
6:41pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Well, this was as per my prediction yesterday.

Don't feel too sorry, these assembly workers are on £35k+ plus overtime which isn't bad for a semi-skilled job.

chunky_lover says...
6:46pm Thu 25 Oct 12

What are the plans for the site?

S Pance says...
6:54pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Read somewhere that they may procrastinate over selling the site until it falls into dereliction to reduce the chance of another vehicle manufacturer snapping it up. Dunno if this is true or whether they'd want to just get shot of it.

Time will tell.

jonone says...
7:09pm Thu 25 Oct 12

If the workforce is unionised, they'll struggle finding new employment due to the fact that they wouldn't know what a day's hard work is.

dave_gravey says...
7:34pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Can you journalists please do your homework, there are way more than 500 people involved, and the majority of them do not have the privilege of being direct Ford employees, the satellite firms in the surrounding areas that will just fold completely: suppliers, contactors, sub-contractors and service providers, the total will be much closer to 1000 jobs.

Linesman says...
7:35pm Thu 25 Oct 12

jonone wrote:
If the workforce is unionised, they'll struggle finding new employment due to the fact that they wouldn't know what a day's hard work is.
This site was Unionised, and turned in a profit for Ford year after year.

With that record of profit making, I guess it is you, jonone, that wouldn't know what a day's hard work is. If you did, you would know that what made that profit for Ford.

I suppose that, in your ignorance, you think the profit was made by non-unionised robots.

Linesman says...
7:37pm Thu 25 Oct 12

dave_gravey wrote:
Can you journalists please do your homework, there are way more than 500 people involved, and the majority of them do not have the privilege of being direct Ford employees, the satellite firms in the surrounding areas that will just fold completely: suppliers, contactors, sub-contractors and service providers, the total will be much closer to 1000 jobs.
You forgot to mention the loss of income for local shops.

richieroo says...
7:41pm Thu 25 Oct 12

jonone wrote:
If the workforce is unionised, they'll struggle finding new employment due to the fact that they wouldn't know what a day's hard work is.
Well said that man!.

Lone Ranger. says...
7:51pm Thu 25 Oct 12

richieroo wrote:
jonone wrote:
If the workforce is unionised, they'll struggle finding new employment due to the fact that they wouldn't know what a day's hard work is.
Well said that man!.
Do you really have any idea what you are talking about or can you only string four words together

business-guru says...
7:57pm Thu 25 Oct 12

the redevelopment of the site will in the medium term bring in MANY more jobs that the 500-600 lost. Its prime commercial and light engineering territory. The factory would have shut eventually anyway, the Unions are still in the 20th century and any attempt at lateral use of the plant by ford would have been scuppered by the "everybody out" brigade. Good luck to the workforce in finding new jobs and good luck to EBC in getting that site to maximise its future use...

Pettle says...
8:04pm Thu 25 Oct 12

How many VW transporters are on the UK roads these days? A good few I guess. How many KIAs are on UK roads these days? A good few. How many actual VW (not VW owned) and KIA factories are there in the UK! None. This area will become part of some politically connected group of parasites who will claim to be creating jobs and wealth, and deride what was there before (a far more important industry), say st modwen, and some sort of developement put on it, all very pre 2007. Bad news all round! I should think not too many people in high places could really care, but only for the vast sort term money that will be made after Ford close the site down. This is no recovery.

S Pance says...
9:27pm Thu 25 Oct 12

It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.

IronLady2010 says...
9:30pm Thu 25 Oct 12

S Pance wrote:
It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.
I have to agree. The more demanding people get, the company just move somewhere they can run as they want, without being dictated to.

I feel for the workers who have dedicated many years and hope they find suitable employment elsewhere.

Good luck all.

loosehead says...
9:35pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Thought a big part of the site was on lease from the Airport owners?

Kyoboshi says...
10:35pm Thu 25 Oct 12

How about building an ice rink on the site?

dave-the-rave says...
10:43pm Thu 25 Oct 12

** NEWS FLASH **

Southampton Airport announces runway extension across the M27

IronLady2010 says...
10:45pm Thu 25 Oct 12

dave-the-rave wrote:
** NEWS FLASH **

Southampton Airport announces runway extension across the M27
Well, that would create jobs............

dave-the-rave says...
10:47pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Ha Ha it would .. wait for the rumours to kick off now ...

IronLady2010 says...
10:47pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Can't believe so many errors in The Echo lately:
"550 jobs to go after shock decsion to close Swaythling plant".

Are they doing it on purpose?

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:12pm Thu 25 Oct 12

dave-the-rave wrote:
** NEWS FLASH **

Southampton Airport announces runway extension across the M27
Rubbish, the runway isn't aligned towards the Ford plant. The cost of putting a short extension in the space available over the M27 wouldn't be worth the cost. What they will do is build loads and loads of unaffordable homes, and those that are occupied will spend all of their days complaining about the noise. Or they could build a new and bigger Premiership Football Stadium to replace St. Marys, but then it would be the Airport complaining about the noise.

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:14pm Thu 25 Oct 12

I reckon the answer is to boycott all new Ford Products, and put a serious Import Tax on every single vehicle brought in from abroad, making it only economic for the Companies to build them in the UK.

dave-the-rave says...
11:17pm Thu 25 Oct 12

It was a tongue in cheek comment : grab yourself a sense of humour Osprey


Saints probably wont be in the Premiership long enough to warrant a bigger stadium ..

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:19pm Thu 25 Oct 12

dave-the-rave wrote:
It was a tongue in cheek comment : grab yourself a sense of humour Osprey


Saints probably wont be in the Premiership long enough to warrant a bigger stadium ..
I know it was that's why my tongue in cheek response was made, some people will have taken it seriously!

dave-the-rave says...
11:22pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Ha Ha sorry * slaps self round the head *

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:24pm Thu 25 Oct 12

S Pance wrote:
It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.
It's the Unions that are to blame for lots of things, like getting workers sensible pay deals, with sensible conditions of service, which helped create the best quality workers in the World, unfortunately greedy profit seekers find they can't afford to pay for that as they get a reduced pay off. Much better to use cheap foreign slave workers to do the dirty work badly, that's the choice you have made.

Torchie1 says...
11:51pm Thu 25 Oct 12

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
I reckon the answer is to boycott all new Ford Products, and put a serious Import Tax on every single vehicle brought in from abroad, making it only economic for the Companies to build them in the UK.
That is called protectionism and would be the kiss of death for UK exports when other countries took similar steps to look after their own industry. The UK trades with the world and has to compete on a number of parameters including price.

St Retford says...
12:31am Fri 26 Oct 12

IronLady2010 wrote:
S Pance wrote:
It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.
I have to agree. The more demanding people get, the company just move somewhere they can run as they want, without being dictated to.

I feel for the workers who have dedicated many years and hope they find suitable employment elsewhere.

Good luck all.
Right, so it's nothing to do with the economic collapse across the Eurozone which has seen demand for transit vans slump?

No, you two are right: let's use this sad news as a platform to air our right wing and ill-informed prejudices. Why not also blame it on immigration, single-mothers and the welfare state?

loosehead says...
7:30am Fri 26 Oct 12

Let's put this into perspective! Years ago they were talking of shutting down Southampton's production & moving it to Belgium.
then this super dooper Turkish factory was built it can build everything from cars up to lorries it's wages are lower than the other two.
It's cost to run are small compared to the other two & there's a glut of vehicle manufacturers since China stepped onto the scene.
I know several Ford workers & I know many have accepted new working practices ( as we did at BAT) but they knew this day might come but they hoped that by keeping the company happy it would stay there?
Look at American car companies in America? most have moved to Mexico for cheap labour so there was no way they were not going to do it here that's their nature.
For a long time now if a company has only moved abroad for cheap labour I refuse to buy their goods maybe it's about time we all did what the old saying was & BUY BRITISH or at least built in Britain.
I hope these guys get work maybe they can contact Toyota or Honda as many of my work mates now work foe Twinings?

OSPREYSAINT says...
8:19am Fri 26 Oct 12

Torchie1 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
I reckon the answer is to boycott all new Ford Products, and put a serious Import Tax on every single vehicle brought in from abroad, making it only economic for the Companies to build them in the UK.
That is called protectionism and would be the kiss of death for UK exports when other countries took similar steps to look after their own industry. The UK trades with the world and has to compete on a number of parameters including price.
That's OK then, and the EU doesn't do any of that then? We can't export anything if we haven't got an Industry anyhow. So how do we restore our manufacturing industry when the banks won't invest in UK Companies, UK Companies are not prepared to pay their workers a sensible wage or give them fair conditions of service, it is an ever decreasing circle into oblivion.

OSPREYSAINT says...
8:23am Fri 26 Oct 12

chunky_lover wrote:
What are the plans for the site?
It will lay derelict for a long time with the usual mysterious fire which will destroy much of the infrastructure. Some of those buildings are of considerable historical importance and will be in the way of the developers.

Taskforce 141 says...
8:25am Fri 26 Oct 12

Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!

OSPREYSAINT says...
9:04am Fri 26 Oct 12

There is on benefit of the Swaythling plant, we no longer will have to put up with the nauseous chemical smell that we get in my area when there is an Easterly wind, it is noticeable that it has decreased with cutback in Production.

Shoong says...
9:55am Fri 26 Oct 12

Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.

Linesman says...
10:44am Fri 26 Oct 12

IronLady2010 wrote:
S Pance wrote:
It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.
I have to agree. The more demanding people get, the company just move somewhere they can run as they want, without being dictated to.

I feel for the workers who have dedicated many years and hope they find suitable employment elsewhere.

Good luck all.
Of course, it has got nothing to do with how demanding for profits the owners are.

Shoong says...
10:53am Fri 26 Oct 12

Linesman wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
S Pance wrote:
It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.
I have to agree. The more demanding people get, the company just move somewhere they can run as they want, without being dictated to.

I feel for the workers who have dedicated many years and hope they find suitable employment elsewhere.

Good luck all.
Of course, it has got nothing to do with how demanding for profits the owners are.
Yeh, that's kind of how businesses work. You won't find many that actively seek to operate at a loss.

George4th says...
11:02am Fri 26 Oct 12

Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
There are now more people employed than ever before in our History!
>
The Labour supporters are now starting to worry because they can see that once again the Torys have ridden to the rescue of UK Plc and pulled it back from the jaws of the IMF!

Mr Price says...
11:12am Fri 26 Oct 12

To all the negative comments held by stupid people who are disrespecting the work force because they were in a Union.. May I remind you that this plant turns over a profit for Fords..... year in Year out. GREED and under hands deals are the true reasons.

Linesman says...
11:18am Fri 26 Oct 12

Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.

Linesman says...
11:20am Fri 26 Oct 12

Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
S Pance wrote:
It's the unions that killed the UK transit, not Ford.
I have to agree. The more demanding people get, the company just move somewhere they can run as they want, without being dictated to.

I feel for the workers who have dedicated many years and hope they find suitable employment elsewhere.

Good luck all.
Of course, it has got nothing to do with how demanding for profits the owners are.
Yeh, that's kind of how businesses work. You won't find many that actively seek to operate at a loss.
But they were already operating at a profit, and had been for years.

Linesman says...
11:25am Fri 26 Oct 12

George4th wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
There are now more people employed than ever before in our History!
>
The Labour supporters are now starting to worry because they can see that once again the Torys have ridden to the rescue of UK Plc and pulled it back from the jaws of the IMF!
What the statistics did not show was, how many have gone from full-time employment to part-time employment.

This has meant that more women have had to put their children into nurseries and get a job to supplement the income of their husband/partner who is on reduced hours or even part-time.

It will be interesting to see what the statistics show for the next quarter.

Shoong says...
11:27am Fri 26 Oct 12

Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...

George4th says...
11:34am Fri 26 Oct 12

Linesman wrote:
George4th wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
There are now more people employed than ever before in our History!
>
The Labour supporters are now starting to worry because they can see that once again the Torys have ridden to the rescue of UK Plc and pulled it back from the jaws of the IMF!
What the statistics did not show was, how many have gone from full-time employment to part-time employment.

This has meant that more women have had to put their children into nurseries and get a job to supplement the income of their husband/partner who is on reduced hours or even part-time.

It will be interesting to see what the statistics show for the next quarter.
You're simply worried!

Fatty x Ford Worker says...
11:36am Fri 26 Oct 12

Hows about a Multi Sports complex then! Ice rink, Speedway track Banger Racing,A decent Football ground with all the Transport Links.

southy says...
12:12pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Ford today admitted it is set to lose £930m ($1.5bn) this year in the region.

And how much is left in profits after this deduction, still in the $ billions

southy says...
12:21pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
Yes government do, its government economic and political policy that allows it to happen

Linesman says...
3:05pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
"I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens...." Of course not, and you were saying the same thing about Gordon Brown when he had to deal with the Interntional Banking Crisis that nobody saw coming.

I seem to recall that you had a total lack of understanding at the time, and have since raised it every time the opportunity arises.

Maybe you just get fixated.

It is more than two years since Cameron&Co came to power, which is considerably longer than the period since Royston&Co were given their vote of No Confidence. I doubt that I will be blaming him in a couple of years' time.

I am not claiming that the government has put these people out of work, but they have done Sweet FA to keep them IN work.

Only the day before this was announced, at PM's Question Time, Cameron was saying that there was good news on the way. Certainly was for workers in Southampton and Dagenham.

Georgem says...
4:14pm Fri 26 Oct 12

southy wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
Yes government do, its government economic and political policy that allows it to happen
Imagine the mess we would be in if economic and political policy made it impossible for people to lose jobs. Go on. Imagine it.

Businesses cannot be compelled to employ people. It simply isn't possible.

Lone Ranger. says...
4:41pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Where is the scoop that the Echo has regarding the Governments handout to Fords ............ And the Government Knowing that Fords were to close Southampton days ago

Linesman says...
5:30pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Georgem wrote:
southy wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
Yes government do, its government economic and political policy that allows it to happen
Imagine the mess we would be in if economic and political policy made it impossible for people to lose jobs. Go on. Imagine it.

Businesses cannot be compelled to employ people. It simply isn't possible.
You are correct, but a government is elected to create an environment where businesses are encouraged to expand and create jobs. This, in turn, creates more tax-payers, that gives more revenue to the government etc etc.

There has been precious little sign of this government adopting such a policy.

Linesman says...
5:31pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Just noticed the Headline.

What is a 'shock decsion'?

George4th says...
5:33pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Linesman wrote:
Georgem wrote:
southy wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
Yes government do, its government economic and political policy that allows it to happen
Imagine the mess we would be in if economic and political policy made it impossible for people to lose jobs. Go on. Imagine it.

Businesses cannot be compelled to employ people. It simply isn't possible.
You are correct, but a government is elected to create an environment where businesses are encouraged to expand and create jobs. This, in turn, creates more tax-payers, that gives more revenue to the government etc etc.

There has been precious little sign of this government adopting such a policy.
And yet we still have more people employed than ever before!

Lone Ranger. says...
6:58pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Linesman wrote:
Just noticed the Headline.

What is a 'shock decsion'?
Linesman ...... The Coalition knew about the closures days before the announcement and after they agreed a multi million pound aid package.
.
The innocent Mr Cable is just as bigger liar than the rest ....... He is becoming a real Tory
.
http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/briefing
/fordfactory/?ref=rl

loosehead says...
9:09pm Fri 26 Oct 12

southy wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
Yes government do, its government economic and political policy that allows it to happen
Southy how good's your memory?
Fords took work from Southampton & placed it in Belgium.
Then they built a one factory does all in Turkey & both British & belgium plants lost production to it so it wouldn't have mattered who was in government this was on the cards.
How people can blame the government gets me?
I'm no liberal lover but Vince Cable fought alongside the Unions to get extra work on Merseyside in car production.
If he & the Government new of it in advanced I'm sure they would have tried to come to a similar conclusion as on Merseyside but if it was only the day before exactly how can this be the Governments fault?
Instead of trying to score cheap political points we should be calling for the Unions & the Government to approach other van/vehicle manufacturers to take over the plant
with the skilled workforce that's there.
But what do I know I'm just here to be wound up ?

OSPREYSAINT says...
8:41am Sat 27 Oct 12

George4th wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Georgem wrote:
southy wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Shoong wrote:
Taskforce 141 wrote:
Nice to see another fine example of the private sector picking up the public sector job losses...

Will there be any jobs anywhere in a few years time?

The CON-DEM government have done exactly that - CONDEMNED England!
All your posts start with this sentence, can you at least try and mix it up a bit.
I suppose that it is rather annoying to be constantly reminded of what the coalition government said would happen when they were busy putting people out of work.
They must do better, I don't think they could have foreseen everything that happens, but posting the same over and over again doesn't really have any effect. It's constantly boring and predictable.

How's the voodoo doll of Royston Smith coming along? Maybe you just get fixated.

The government put these people out of work did they? Oh dear, ok, if you say so...
Yes government do, its government economic and political policy that allows it to happen
Imagine the mess we would be in if economic and political policy made it impossible for people to lose jobs. Go on. Imagine it.

Businesses cannot be compelled to employ people. It simply isn't possible.
You are correct, but a government is elected to create an environment where businesses are encouraged to expand and create jobs. This, in turn, creates more tax-payers, that gives more revenue to the government etc etc.

There has been precious little sign of this government adopting such a policy.
And yet we still have more people employed than ever before!
Yo actually believe the figures that are quoted?

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