Steelworker job losses at Llanwern "body blow for Newport and South Wales"

4.04.00pm GMT Mon 26th Jan 2009

Reaction: "We can hardly afford to lose manufacturing jobs"

Commenting on the news that Corus at Llanwern have entered into the required 90 day consultation with the workforce over 528 job losses, a local Assembly member has described the news as "a body blow for the manufacturing industry and South Wales."

Michael German AM was speaking after Corus announced that it was to mothball the hot-strip mill at Llanwern and cut 2,500 jobs in the UK.

"The rapid downturn in the economy and in particular the collapse of car sales has hit Llanwern in the worst way. We can hardly afford to lose manufacturing jobs and this news is a body blow for manufacturing, Newport and South Wales", said Mr. German.

"Certainly the proposal to moth ball the strip mill means that, one day, production will hopefully start again at Llanwern. However, this news shows that the UK Government's economic recovery plan is failing and local people are paying with their jobs."