UNION leaders at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port car plant will tell Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today: “Give us the recognition we deserve.”

Lord Mandelson will tour the plant’s production lines and speak to senior directors and union leaders later today.

His visit follows the submission of final offers by three rival buyers for the General Motors European business which includes Vauxhall’s 5,000 workers at Ellesmere Port and Luton and the Opel brand in mainland Europe.

Government financial support is seen as vital to ensure the survival of the two UK plants whoever is chosen as the new owner from the shortlist of Canadian car parts maker Magna, Belgian conglomerate RHJ International and China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Corp.

Germany, which has the most General Motors (GM) assembly plants in Europe, has pledged £2.6bn in state aid to a new owner

It is understood GM has requested £430m from the UK Government to ensure Vauxhall car and van production remains in the UK.

Ellesmere Port’s union convenor John Fetherstone said he will use his time with the Business Secretary to impress on him the achievements of the site and its almost 2,200-strong workforce which is gearing up for the September launch of Vauxhall’s new Astra model.