He insisted: “Jaguar is not a basket case company. Halewood is not a basket case factory.
“We have to keep our eye not on negatives but positives. Jaguar is a very strong car company and a strong factory producing three market winners in the Freelander, the LRX and a seven-seater model behind that once we emerge from the recession.”
Inward investment agency The Mersey Partnership (TMP) also called for an end to the uncertainty over funding for Halewood.
Chair Rod Holmes said: “TMP and others, including the Liverpool Daily Post, have done what they can to emphasise to Government and JLR how important their plant, sub-contractors, skills and innovation are to the Liverpool region.
“We have put pressure on the Government, including the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Business Secretary, to respond to JLR’s request for underwriting support for the approved EIB loan – and to do it quickly.
“David Smith says it is necessary to protect ‘other investment plans’.
“We must now work with JLR to make sure those investment plans involve Liverpool and the production of the proposed Land Rover LRX.
“Meanwhile, we must hope that the present decision is not the result of Government inertia, or tactics.
“If it is, then we must ask if Government is giving enough, urgent, effective support to successful British cutting-edge technology and our highly-skilled workforce.”
Liverpool council leader Cllr Warren Bradley added his voice to the clamour for Government action, saying: “It’s absolutely crucial that Lord Mandelson acts quickly and offers the financial support necessary to help the firm through the recession.”
And the Northwest Development Agency has pledged its support for the Halewood plant.
Chief executive Steven Broomhead said: “NWDA is making assurances with JLR management that everything will be done to help the long-term survival and success of JLR at Halewood.”
But for all the calls for urgent action, Labour’s response gave little prospect of a swift conclusion.
Quizzed by Knowsley North and Sefton East MP George Howarth, Gordon Brown only offered: “Any redundancies and loss of jobs are to be regretted. We want to secure the future of Halewood, which is why we have offered £27m in grant aid.”
And Lord Mandelson’s office could only add: “This was a commercial decision for the company which reflects the general economic downturn.”
