Union calls for MP action over Bombardier
Trade union Unite has accused South Derbyshire's MP of not "coming out fighting" to save the axed Bombardier jobs in her constituency.
The union has urged Conservative Heather Wheeler to "stop peddling the government line" after German manufacturer Siemens was awarded the £1.4bn Thameslink contract over Derby-based Bombardier.
Trainmaker Bombardier said it would now have to reassess its future in the UK on the back of the contract loss, cutting up to 1,400 jobs.
A recent survey by an independent company showed that Wheeler's 7,128 majority could be swept away by local anger felt by voters about the future of Bombardier, according to Unite.
Regional officer Tony Tinley said: "The role of a good local MP is keeping her constituents in employment and local industry thriving, and not peddling the ministerial line that strongly appears to favour the Siemens bid.
"If Heather Wheeler does not show more backbone in this fight, she will go the way of the last Tory MP to hold her seat – Edwina Currie – and into the dustbin of Derbyshire history."
But Wheeler recently blogged on the issue saying: "I have been working hard to find out why Bombardier lost out on this government contract."
