‘Not good enough’

Unite echoed concerns voiced today (March 3) by the influential House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committee, which warned that the government’s industrial strategy lacks cohesion and ambition.

The commentary on the government’s green paper published in January was delivered by the committee in its ‘Industrial Strategy: First Review’, published today.

Calling for ministers to think more radically with more urgency, Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said, “The select committee has confirmed what we have long feared, that the government’s industrial strategy simply is not good enough.

“It is certainly not up to the job of reinforcing our foundation industries ahead of Brexit,” he added.

“We urgently need ministers to think more radically about what our changing economy needs for the UK to retain its status as a global player in manufacturing.

“And we need the chancellor of the exchequer to support our skills and jobs through investment, beginning with the urgent help needed now to bring component manufacturing for the car industry back to the UK.

“The work to prepare our industry for Brexit has to be done now, not in some far away future.”