Plaid Cymru urges UK Government to “step up” and provide direct support to protect Welsh car sector jobs
Liz Saville Roberts slams past governments for leaving Welsh livelihoods exposed to global market forces
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, highlighted how Trump’s 25% tariffs on machinery and transport equipment will threaten Wales’ car sector.
The automative sector employs 30,000 people in Wales.
Just last week, Ms Saville Roberts urged the UK Government to use economic common sense and accelerate scrapping trade barriers with Europe in the face of Trump’s tariffs to protect the Welsh economy.
Liz Saville Roberts MP also criticised previous Labour and Conservative Governments for failing to protect Welsh livelihoods in the past, who were “swept away” by global market forces.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP claimed that the Government would give British car-makers “certainty and support” in the face of global economic headwinds. However, the Welsh Automative Forum have called for direct support for the car sector, claiming that the UK Government’s commitments aren’t enough.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
"Previous Labour and Conservative Governments did little when Welsh livelihoods were swept away by global market forces in places like the Ford plant in Bridgend and the steel works in Port Talbot.
"Wales’s car sector is now facing 25% tariffs, thanks to President Trump, threatening an industry which employs 30,000 people.
"The Welsh Automotive Forum have said the Government’s commitments are not enough. They’re calling for direct support.
"Recycled fines are hardly direct support. Is her Government prepared to step up and provide it?"
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander responded:
“We have a £2 billion automotive transformation fund. We’re investing hundreds of millions of pounds in other forms of support as well.
“I work closely with the Welsh Government on these issues, and we won’t leave any stone unturned in our attempts to protect the car manufacturing industry and ensure that those high skilled jobs are there in communities in Wales and across the rest of country.”