North East leaders urge Labour government to keep their promise and secure the future of Hitachi

During the election campaign Labour had promised to secure the future of the Hitachi Factory in Bishop Auckland in County Durham.

Transcript

00:00Labour's first autumn budget will be announced on the 13th October and North East leaders

00:04have urged the government to stick to its promise of saving the Hitachi factory in Bishop

00:09Auckland, County Durham.

00:10During the election campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to start working to

00:14saving Hitachi on day one of the new Labour government.

00:18Alan Strickland, the MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymore said that the future of the

00:22Hitachi factory, which employs around 700 workers in Newton Aycliffe, with many more

00:27in the supply chain relying on the factory for work, remains his number one priority.

00:32He said when referring to the new Labour government that there can be no backsliding, they gave

00:37their work as a Hitachi their word and they must make good on this.

00:41Kim McGuinness, the North East Mayor, said she is in close and regular contact with Hitachi

00:46and government ministers, including the Transport Secretary and Chancellor, to ensure the future

00:51of Hitachi.

00:52Yet an agreement is still to be reached as Hitachi still struggle to fill their production

00:55gap and look to secure long-term contracts and jobs in the North East.