Labour's Shameful Neglect Of Manufacturing Industry

Labour have betrayed their history and heritage in so many ways. They have betrayed the hopes of so many of those who placed so much faith in Tony Blair in 1997. But one of the biggest betrayals is New Labour's betrayal of British manufacturing industry. Figures released yesterday show that manufacturing as a share of the economy has collapsed from 20 per cent in 1997 to just under 13 per cent today. On top this comes today's devastating news that Corus are shedding 1,700 jobs on Teeside.

The fact is that Labour have ignored and betrayed manufacturaing industry. They were seduced by the City and the South East of England. This 'Labour' Government has been happy to let manufacturing decline at the same time as bankers ran amok - earning obscene bonuses and damaging the real economy.

In contrast, I believe that manufacturing MUST have a central role to play in our economy. We must become a country that makes things again. And the North East must lead this renaissance of British manufacturing. If elected as MP for North Durham, I will actively campaign for a vision of the North East that has a rejuvenated, competitive manufacturing sector at its very heart. I have had quite enough of New Labour's defeatism and neglect of our region and manufacturing industry as a whole.