Chuka Umunna, Shadow Secretary of Business, Innovation and Skills, has announced that a review will be undertaken of the UK manufacturing supply chain, to be led by Mike Wright, Executive Director of Jaguar Land Rover.
Speaking at the Labour Party Conference, Mr Umunna said that he and Ed Balls have asked Mr Wright to carry out the review, calling JLR “a real British success story”.
Meanwhile Iain Wright MP, Shadow Business Minister, outlined his ambitions for a favourable business environment to encourage investment into UK automotive, with a particular emphasis on skills.
Speaking at an SMMT roundtable breakfast, Mr Wright called for a focus on addressing the skills needs of the supply chain, noting that this was critically important to achieve growth in the wider manufacturing sector.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, opened the breakfast meeting by calling for cross-party commitment to the implantation of the automotive sector strategy, while parliamentarians and industry representatives also discussed the importance of the UK maintaining a strong voice in Europe.
A number of key Labour figures took part in debate, including Cathy Jamieson MP, Shadow Treasury Minister; Richard Burden MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group; and Ian Lucas MP, Shadow Foreign Minister.
The Labour Party breakfast was the second in a series of SMMT party conference roundtable events, the last of which will be held at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday 30 September.
