He explicitly denied he had demanded the right to appoint a new chairman or chief executive.

The 300 Halewood job losses were announced on Wednesday last week when plant bosses confirmed the Baby Jag would cease production at the end of the year.

The popular Freelander 4x4 model is still produced at the factory, with the possibility of a future seven-seater version.

But the big hope for the Knowsley plant rests on the concept LRX car, a “Baby Land Rover” which will achieve an environmentally-friendly 60 miles per gallon.

Government funding of £27m has been offered and a chunk of the £340m loan is earmarked for the LRX.

Tomorrow,, Lord Mandelson will visit Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant.

He will tour the production line and will meet union representatives, GM UK management and local MPs to update them on the discussions that the Government is having with all the parties involved.

Vauxhall employs 2,000 people at the factory.

Yesterday was the closing date for bids for Vauxhall and its German sister company Opel.

Canadian car part firm, Magna, is seen as the leading bidder after it signed a memorandum of understanding with GM in May.

It says its has no immediate plans to close factories.