I am deeply concerns by the recent announcement of redundancies at Cammell Laird shipyards and have been in close contact with the yards’ management and union representatives to discuss how to mitigate job losses.

Speaking to the Wirral Globe, I said:

“If the company needs to make a headcount reduction then it could have been discussed with the trade unions and, in the spirit of the 2018 agreement, undertaken through a properly negotiated voluntary redundancy scheme.

 

But suddenly announcing the job cuts with the possibility of compulsory redundancies feels like the management are treating it as a poker game and decided to go all in at once.

 

I am appealing to them to get back round the table with the unions, develop a plan that avoids compulsory redundancies, maintains the excellent apprenticeship scheme and puts Lairds in pole position to win the forthcoming defence contracts and others.”

I have also tabled an Early Day Motion, which to date has been signed by nineteen fellow Members of Parliament.

I also continue to passionately lobby the Government to ensure that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s new Fleet Solid Support Ships are built at British shipyards like Cammell Laird.