Dear Sir,
Our friends and neighbours working at Hitachi deserve a secure future and our town deserves to keep this world-class train manufacturer.
That’s why I’m proud to have delivered my promise to secure the future of the plant by working with the Prime Minister, transport ministers, industry leaders, Hitachi senior managers and Union representatives for more than two years. I continue to push hard for additional contracts to ensure the plant continues to recover from the mess the Tories left it.
The Rail Industry Association warned years ago that the Conservative Government was leaving huge gaps in order books when procuring trains. Industry leaders were clear this would threaten the future of train factories across the country. The Tories failed to listen and Labour inherited an industry in crisis.
In opposition, Labour promised to protect the factory’s future. Within months of entering government, it was Labour transport ministers who made securing deals a top national priority and a Labour Prime Minister who travelled to Hitachi to tell workers in person he’d kept his word.
In advance of the council elections, the Tories are trying to redeem their reputation. But they came third in the general election here for a reason. Local Tories promised for years to save Hitachi, invest £20m in Aycliffe town centre and reopen Ferryhill station. None of this happened.
People aren’t daft and saw through this. While the Tories spend their time writing misleading letters, I’ll be spending my time standing up for our community and getting things done.
Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor.