An elected member for the city of Derby has used her rare opportunity in the House of Commons to champion the rail industry in the city. Backbench Member of Parliament Catherine Atkinson stood up for manufacturing in the city, which supports a critical hub of jobs and innovation. Derby faced a crisis this time last year with the Litchurch Lane works, managed by Alstom, facing an empty order book.
The weekly and somewhat stage-managed Prime Minister’s Questions was held as usual yesterday (23 April). A set question was tabled by the member for Derby North. Catherine Atkinson made her point, which benefited her constituents, and also allowed the Prime Minister to express support for other manufacturing in the UK.
Crucial backing says PM
Just over a year ago, there were dire warnings of railway industry extinction in Derby. As reported by RailTech.com, the works, which has over a century of history, had less than one hundred days of future left in it. “This time last year, train manufacturing at Alstom in Derby was grinding to a halt,” explained Ms Atkinson to the House. “On a single day, workers with a combined welding experience of nearly 1,000 years walked out of its doors, but the whole city came together with crucial backing from this Prime Minister.”
Keir Starmer rose to the bait with the customary salutation and delivered a three-part assurance. “We will support our rail industry, providing certainty that delivers jobs, investment and security,” he said. “Whether it is the workforce I met at Alstom or the workers at Hitachi in County Durham.” The PM referred to Hitachi in County Durham, which recently announced it had won an order for its 800-series multiple units. The industry at large may have welcomed a mention for indigenous rail manufacturing in the UK. The once thriving sector is now significantly reduced in size with, for example, only one freight rolling stock manufacturer remaining (WH Davis in Mansfield).
Derby reinstated as home of railways
Catherine Atkinson’s speech came just a few days after the steel works at Scunthorpe, which also supplies the UK rail industry, had been in crisis. She echoed that in her question, and was at pains to note that the works in her constituency had gone from despair to distinction as a hub for railway-related celebrations this year, and is set to become the managerial heart of the government’s rail nationalisation programme. “What a difference a year makes,” she said. “Alstom saved and set to host the greatest gathering to celebrate 200 years of rail and with the headquarters of Great British Railways in Derby.”
“I met those workforces. I know how worried they were a year ago,” replied Keir Starmer, referring to high-profile visits to both works in the past year. “Derby will be the home of Great British Railways, because we are bringing railways back into public ownership and boosting growth across the country.”