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9:00pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
LABOUR leadership hopeful David Miliband has met unions at BAE Systems to discuss their job fears.
The shadow Foreign Secretary said workers were being affected by ‘planning blight’ over the uncertainty surrounding the multi-billion pound Eurofighter Typhoon contract.
Yesterday he spent half an hour in behind-closed-doors talks at the firm’s sports and social Canberra Club in Samlesbury.
The visit came after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed the firm was bracing itself for thousands of job losses if the government cancels Tranche 3B of the project.
A defence review is underway, and the Ministry of Defence will also be looking for most cost savings following next month’s spending review.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Miliband said: “The union has been briefing me about its worries over the government’s defence policy, and what it means for the industrial strength of this region.
“This is a strong manufacturing industry, and it depends on sensible defence budgeting. What people want is clarity.
“Everyone understands the government needs to save money.”
He said maintaining the Eurofighter had been a manifesto commitment for Labour before the last General Election, but could not make the same guarantee for the following Parliament.
He said: “We made a clear commitment before the election, and would have done in this Parliament. But we don’t know what we are going to inherit.”
Unite union rep Neil Sheehan said: “He listened, and certainly had a good grasp of the situation.
“We are concerned like everyone else, but we just don’t know yet.“ David and his brother Ed Miliband are the frontrunners in the race to become the next Labour leader. Ballot papers were sent out to members this week and the result will be announced later this month.
Comments(10)
DEO VOLENTE
says...
10:04pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Longtimerover
says...
10:46pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Grizzly
says...
11:05pm Thu 2 Sep 10
DEO VOLENTE wrote:Are you ill?
Is this David Miliband the next "New Labour Leader" - the natural "Heir to Blair"? I hope that Mr Miliband takes the time to explain that any cuts to jobs at BAE are due to the "New Labour" legacy. I also hope that someone at BAE has the good sense to tell Mr Miliband that "New Labour are to directly to blame for the economic and moral decline of the U.K. I also hope that someone has the good sense to remind Mr Miliband that "New Labour" and their Politically Disorientated, Spendaholic, Champagne Socialist, Politically (in)correct policies are responsible for the lamentable state that the U.K. currently finds itself in. Furthermore I hope that someone also has the good sense to inform Mr Miliband that when he elected leader of the "New Labour" project that he will have to enjoy sitting on the opposition benches for many, many years due to the U.K. electorate realising just what an incompetent disgrace "New Labour" actually are. If there is no-one at BAE who wants to tell Mr Miliband all of the aforementioned, which I doubt. I would be more than happy to tell him myself. Perhaps Mr Miliband reads the local press, I hope that he does. With that in mind I would like to repeat to him that we must never let "New Labour" back into office so that they can, inter alia, corrupt and infect our great country again. Are you listening Mr Miliband? Ah well "Tempus Fugit"
Deus Vobiscum.
time.team
says...
11:58pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Chris P Bacon
says...
6:43am Fri 3 Sep 10
Grizzly wrote:The jury's back on that; it's a resopunding GUILTY!
DEO VOLENTE wrote:Are you ill?
Is this David Miliband the next "New Labour Leader" - the natural "Heir to Blair"? I hope that Mr Miliband takes the time to explain that any cuts to jobs at BAE are due to the "New Labour" legacy. I also hope that someone at BAE has the good sense to tell Mr Miliband that "New Labour are to directly to blame for the economic and moral decline of the U.K. I also hope that someone has the good sense to remind Mr Miliband that "New Labour" and their Politically Disorientated, Spendaholic, Champagne Socialist, Politically (in)correct policies are responsible for the lamentable state that the U.K. currently finds itself in. Furthermore I hope that someone also has the good sense to inform Mr Miliband that when he elected leader of the "New Labour" project that he will have to enjoy sitting on the opposition benches for many, many years due to the U.K. electorate realising just what an incompetent disgrace "New Labour" actually are. If there is no-one at BAE who wants to tell Mr Miliband all of the aforementioned, which I doubt. I would be more than happy to tell him myself. Perhaps Mr Miliband reads the local press, I hope that he does. With that in mind I would like to repeat to him that we must never let "New Labour" back into office so that they can, inter alia, corrupt and infect our great country again. Are you listening Mr Miliband? Ah well "Tempus Fugit"
Deus Vobiscum.
akon
says...
3:13pm Fri 3 Sep 10
DEO VOLENTE
says...
11:23pm Fri 3 Sep 10
DEO VOLENTE
says...
11:37pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Chris P Bacon
says...
7:25am Sat 4 Sep 10
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Chris P Bacon says...
9:27pm Thu 2 Sep 10