FORMER Government minister Digby Jones has agreed to take on the role of “corporate ambassador” for car maker Jaguar Land Rover.
Lord Jones, who was Trade Minister until he stepped down from the role last October, is expected to attend a number of events at Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships throughout the year.
But he insisted that his role – for which he will be paid – would not involve lobbying ministers on behalf of the company, which has been in talks with the Government for several months about financial assistance.
However, he called earlier this month for special measures to help rescue the ailing motor industry.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which is facing a slump in sales as recession bites, announced 450 job losses earlier this month and there is speculation that another 1,500 jobs could be lost.
JLR employs 2,200 at its Merseyside plant at Halewood, and 13,000 in the Midlands.
Lord Jones of Birmingham was director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) before he was “headhunted” by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to join the government in 2007. He held the post of Trade Minister for 18 months.
A JLR spokesman said: “Digby is a great ambassador for the car industry, for the West Midlands and for British business.
“We have similar arrangements with a number of sports people and figures from the world of showbusiness.”
The appointment comes as representatives of the car industry prepare to meet Business Secretary Lord Mandelson this week.
Lord Mandelson has not yet given the green light to a package for JLR, or for the car industry as a whole, but has said he is keen to ensure that the research and development activity undertaken by companies such as JLR, which is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, is not lost to Britain.
He has also promised he will take into account the impact of closures on Merseyside’s regional economy.
The Daily Post is campaigning for the Government to give a loan or loan guarantee to help JLR survive the slump.
Our “Support JLR” campaign is being run with sister paper the Liverpool Echo and stablemates the Birmingham Post and Mail and the Coventry Telegraph.
alanweston
