Starmer vows long-term plan for train manufacturing

Labour Leader Keir Starmer visited the Hitachi manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe

The Labour leader has warned communities will be hit hard if rail manufacturing sites are lost.

Sir Keir Starmer visited the Hitachi manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on Thursday.

Hitachi and Derby-based Alstom have both warned their work in the UK is at risk as orders drop, with potential for job cuts at both plants.

But the government said it was in talks with Hitachi about securing a sustainable future for the site.

Sir Keir, whose party has unveiled its plans to 'renationalise' railways, said the Hitachi workforce was "staring down the barrel of devastating job losses".

He claimed the situation was "not inevitable" and blamed the government's industrial strategy.

'Crucial sector'

Labour has said its plan for the rail industry would aim to end the "stop-and-start" they face with their order books, which train makers have said is contributing to a worsening financial situation.

He said: "This is a crisis that must be resolved urgently and must not be allowed to happen again.

"That's why, as part of our wider plan to fix Britain's broken railways, Labour will bring forward a new, long-term strategy for this crucial sector."

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said Labour's plan for the rail industry was unfunded and would result in higher taxes for working people.

But it won the backing of Keith Williams who carried out a review into the railways for ministers.

He said Labour's proposals would "take forward the substance of my recommendations to deliver a better railway for passengers and freight".

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The Transport Secretary held a constructive meeting with union representatives of the Hitachi workforce last week and we remain in close contact with the company to secure a sustainable future for rail manufacturing at Newton Aycliffe."