Rachel Reeves says Government determined to save Hitachi

Speaking during her first day working from the Treasury’s base Darlington Ms Reeves said Labour’s commitment to the plant remains as strong as before the election.

But the Echo understands no meeting has yet been arranged or taken place between Department for Transport (DfT) and Hitachi officials, with a spokesperson for the train-builder saying they look forward to holding talks “very soon”.

Ms Reeves told the Echo: “You know my commitment to Hitachi - I’ve been there on a number of occasions, as has the Prime Minister and the new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh (right) on a visit to Hitachi in April. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

“We are absolutely determined to keep those good jobs at Hitachi. We’ve met people who work there, I know how skilled those jobs are.

“I know how hard The Northern Echo as well as the former MP for Sedgefield worked on getting those jobs to Newton Aycliffe and we’re determined that we don’t lose those jobs and lose those skills

“I know Louise (Haigh) is already working with the DfT to look at the options but unlike the last Government we’re not going to sit on our hands and allow good jobs paying decent wages, that are so important for the North East economy just to disappear

“We’ll do everything we can to protect these jobs, as we promised in opposition. We will deliver in Government.”

She spent the morning meeting staff at the Darlington Economic Campus and visited local businesses including Black Olive Deli.

The Darlington Economic Campus. (Image: Newsquest)

A Hitachi spokesperson said: “We look forward to meeting with the new Government very soon to assess available solutions to maintain jobs and skills at Newton Aycliffe.”

Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe needs new orders to fill a gap between finishing trains for the West Coast Mainline, and starting work on HS2 trains.

If no new orders are found hundreds of its 750-strong workforce could be laid off or the plant even closed in the next 12 months.

Last month, in a rare interview, Hitachi’s executive vice president energy and mobility Alistair Dormer called on the incoming administration after the General Election to act on day one of coming into power.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves being shown around the Hitachi plant in April, along with (L-R) Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo has been calling for months for the Government to step in to save the Newton Aycliffe plant teetering on the edge, which also supports 1,400 other local jobs, by extending a contract for West Coast Mainline trains.

During the election campaign Labour backed our Northern Echo Manifesto, which included stepping in to save Hitachi, and our ‘Keep Hitachi on Track’ campaign was backed by now-PM Sir Keir Starmer.

On Tuesday (July 9) the Department for Transport said it was “urgently exploring options” for the factory.

The Department for Transport said it was continuing to work on solutions but was not drawn when we asked if they could commit to meeting with officials from the train-builder within days.

Speaking at the Leamside Line on Wednesday (July 10) North East Mayor Labour's Kim McGuinness, who is in regular contact with Hitachi, told the Echo: “I am really glad that we’ve put this on the Government’s agenda very quickly.

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“This is something that we have talked to them about over recent months. They have visited the Hitachi factory, they know how important this is and I know that the Department For Transport are looking for an urgent solution and I’ll be making sure it stays firmly on their agenda.

“We know how urgent this is, I know how urgent this is.

“To me, it makes sense to extend the West Coast contract - it feels very much like there is a simple solution within that. It is already an existing contract and it requires an extension.”