Commenting on news that Toyota is to cut around 150 jobs from its factory on Deeside, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan MP said:
“Toyota’s announcement is another blow for the local workforce, and along with today’s manufacturing output figures that show a drop for the 21st month in a row, reflect the devastating impact of Gordon Brown’s recession.
“The unemployment rate in Wales remains higher than any other UK nation with a quarter of the working population economically inactive.
“Is this what senior Labour figures in Wales mean when they say the state of the economy is ‘not that bad’?
“Each job loss is devastating and impacts heavily on families and communities across Wales.
“Only the Conservatives can make a difference, by providing tax breaks for companies which create new jobs, and get Wales working.”
Welsh Conservative AM for North Wales, Mark Isherwood, added:
“News of these job losses is deeply disappointing for North Wales. I sympathise with the workers at the Deeside plant at this incredibly difficult time.
“The value of goods and services produced per person in Flintshire and Wrexham has been slipping further and further behind the UK average for over a decade and Toyota’s strong presence on Deeside is vital.
“The manufacturing sector continues to suffer in this challenging financial climate and it is essential the Welsh Assembly Government does whatever if can to keep jobs like these in Wales.”
