The Government has maintained that they are "committed" to securing the future of Hitachi after The Northern Echo called on the Prime Minister to keep his promise to the region.

Over 700 jobs still hang in the balance at the Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe, several months after the manufacturer first raised concerns of an impending production gap between contracts.

Bosses at Hitachi said in March they were in talks for two years in an attempt to find a fix, but this had "not resulted in a positive resolution".

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH) Earlier this year, The Northern Echo urged the then Conservative administration to step in and help Hitachi by extending a vital contract to secure its future.

But three-and-a-half months on from Labour's landslide win, an agreement is still to be reached, and politicians and officials maintain they are “working at pace” to safeguard jobs as discussions continue.

Now, the government still maintains that they are "committed" to keeping the factory afloat, despite previous pledges from then shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh that it could be saved "with the stroke of a pen". 

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has now said: “I am absolutely committed to protecting rail manufacturing in the UK and developing a long-term strategy to secure the industry's future.

“Unlike the Conservatives, this Labour Government won’t sit on our hands. We are working at pace with Hitachi to safeguard jobs and the future of the site at Newton Aycliffe.

“And we’ll put an end to the boom and bust cycle in rail manufacturing – delivering a new dawn for the sector.”

(Image: Contributor) Local leaders have also affirmed Hitachi is still very much a priority and have echoed the Government's commitment to keeping the factory on track.  

Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, has said the future of the Hitachi, which employs around 700 workers in Newton Aycliffe, with many more in the supply chain relying on the factory for work, remains his 'number one priority'.

He said: "Tory dither and delay left the 700 jobs at the factory at risk.

“I’ve been working at pace to secure these fantastic local jobs. Since the election, I’ve held meetings with ministers and Hitachi, the latest of which was just this week in Parliament.

“I’m really pleased that the Department of Transport and Hitachi continue to be in active and constructive negotiations to find a solution to the production issue.”

However, Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen described the situation as "incredibly serious" and said Mr Starmer "made a promise he must keep".

Mr Houchen said: “This is incredibly serious. It has about 750 local jobs which impacts hard-working families, and the Government made a promise that it must keep.

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“I warned repeatedly, at the time, that the decision taken by the Labour North East Councils to outsource the Metro contracts to Switzerland, instead of staying local with Hitachi, was ludicrous, and it gives me no pleasure to have been proven right.

“It is my hope, that alongside the more sensible leadership we are seeing from Kim McGuinness in the North East, the government can stay true to its word and sort this hugely pressing issue out and quickly provide certainty.

“There can be no backsliding, they gave the workers at Hitachi their word and they must make good on this.”