Opposition accuses, government too slow

Tony Blair traveled to Birmingham after attending the Pope’s funeral in Rome to meet union leaders and workers of the MG Rover Group, from the huge factory at Longbridge to pledge his support in efforts to save jobs.

The company succumbed to its mounting debts Friday and filed for a form of bankruptcy protection.

Accompanied by Chancellor Gordon Brown, Blair revealed the two men had been in touch with the Chinese Government in a bid to resurrect a proposed partnership deal with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

The Liberal Democrats accused the government of reacting too slowly.
“By the time the government offered the bridging loan it was already too late for Rover, its workers and its suppliers,” said Malcolm Bruce, the party’s trade and industry spokesman.

A planned joint venture between the two firms dramatically collapsed, plun ging MG Rover into administration and threatening 6,000 job losses across the West Midlands.

Mr Blair said he thought “it’s possible still” that a deal could be struck between MG Rover and Shanghai Automotive.

“We will continue to do absolutely everything we can to keep car production and as many jobs as possible.”

Mr Blair continued: “This is a good plant, they are a fantastic workforce. There is no doubt at all in our minds that any company would be glad to have a workforce like that.”

Blair, who spoke by telephone for 25 minutes on Wednesday night with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, said he hoped an alternative deal would be worked out with SAIC.

The main opposition Conservative Party accused the government of stifling Britain’s manufacturing industry with red tape.

“We’ve in fact lost a million manufacturing jobs since Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have been in charge,” said Conservative co-chairman Liam Fox. “And when you keep on raising the cost to business of regulation, you keep on raising tax, it inevitably has a consequence on our ability to compete in a global economy.”

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