Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East and Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as part of her ongoing campaign to keep the factory open.

In her letter, Emma wrote: “I was pleased to read in the local press that both you and the Prime Minister have taken an interest in this matter. I have noted your comments in the Express and Star on 16 July that: ‘What I said to Emma is that I am keen to hear any ideas or thoughts the community or businesses have. It is a tough situation but I am all ears.’

“I was both encouraged and surprised to read this. I wrote to you on 26 June (the day after the company’s announcement) to urge you to do all that you could to put pressure on the company to reconsider its plans. I have not yet received a response to my letter or to my requests for a meeting on this important matter.”

“However, I welcome your interest and I want to encourage you to now put your words into action.

“The company has agreed to appoint an independent business analyst to undertake a review which will examine the company’s business case for closing the factory. The company has also agreed to provide a contribution towards the fees for carrying out this review. I would urge the government to provide a contribution towards the review so that Goodyear’s business case can be independently and properly scrutinised. I would be happy to facilitate a discussion between officials in the Treasury, BIS and Goodyear.”

Speaking afterwards, Emma said: “I called on Goodyear to be transparent about their plans and to commission an independent review of their plans to close the factory. It is a positive step that the company has agreed to part-fund an independent review. However, a review will only happen if the government supports it. Therefore, I am calling on the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to honour their commitment to consider any solutions that would keep the factory open by contributing to this review.”

Read Emma’s letter to George Osborne on 26 June 2015

Read Emma’s reply to George Osborne on 21 August 2015