Factory Closure Challenge To Blair

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 30th Jan 2007

During Prime Minister's Questions today in the House of Commons, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield asked Tony Blair:

"The multinational company GKN recently announced plans to close its GKN Sheepbridge-Stokes plant in Chesterfield.

"420 engineering workers based in a modern efficient factory face losing their jobs to Asia or Latin America.

"What hope or support can the Prime Minister offer to those 420 skilled workers?

"Especially given that his Chancellor's economic policies are unravelling with interest rates up, inflation at the highest level since 1992 and unemployment at its highest level since 1997?"

Commenting afterwards, Paul Holmes MP added:

"The Prime Minster's response that the economy has improved infinitely since 1997 will be of little comfort to the 420 skilled workers facing unemployment.

"The Labour Government must stop resting on the laurels of their past economic success and act to prevent unemployment, interest rates and inflation increasing any further."