Government still failing our manufacturing sector

"The manufacturing sector, including many businesses in the North East, where manufacturing end exporting are keys to our prosperity has clearly been disregarded while the Tories continue to pursue their ideological, damaging Brexit. It is time they stopped putting party first and fought for our manufacturing sector."

Responding to the news that Bombardier is set to sell their Belfast operations, who employ about 4,000 people across several locations in Northern Ireland, Cllr Robin Ashby (pictured), who leads for the Liberal Democrats on business matters in Newcastle also said:

"Time and again the Conservative Government failed to stand up for Bombardier, including in the face of Trump's bully-boy trade tactics, and now workers in Northern Ireland are paying the price.

"This news is extremely regrettable for Belfast, but particularly for those highly skilled workers who will be directly affected by this announcement.

"This Tory Government long ago lost the right to call themselves the party of business. Today's news adds another 4000 workers to the list of those who will be worrying about their future employment under Theresa May's premiership."