Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East and Shadow Housing Minister, welcomed Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party, to the Jaguar Land Rover engine plant at i54 on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. Ed Miliband was visiting to launch Labour’s economic plan. He was joined by Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor, Caroline Flint, Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, and Chuka Umunna, Shadow Business Secretary. Emma welcomed everyone to the event and introduced Ed to an audience of business people from across the West Midlands. Ed Miliband announced that a Labour government will be pro-business, but not business as usual, while detailing how Labour will change the economy by focussing on every person rather than just the few at the top as wealth creators.

Emma said “I was delighted to welcome Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party and the next Prime Minister, and other members of the Shadow Cabinet to Wolverhampton. Launching our major business policy proposals for the next election here in Wolverhampton, shows the Labour Party’s commitment to the city and real determination to encourage a thriving business environment here. The Labour party has the economic plan to build a better future.”

“The day the new Jaguar Land Rover plant was announced was one of my greatest as a local MP. It has created 1,400 jobs directly and many thousands more in the supply chain. Even more importantly it has created many apprenticeships. The jobs and opportunities these will bring, have given many local young people the aspiration to fulfil their potential.”

“It was under the last Labour government that the i54 in Wolverhampton was identified as a major strategic site to boost the local economy and create jobs. It was thanks to the work of Advantage West Midlands that the site was cleaned up and made ready for investment. Without the strategic vision of the last Labour government and Advantage West Midlands, we wouldn’t have been in a position to attract such a huge investment from Jaguar Land Rover. If the Labour Party is returned to power we will continue to pursue that vision and aim to attract more investment to the area.”

March 2015