GORDON BROWN will tomorrow make his first visit to Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant since Magna International was named as the most likely buyer of General Motors’ European arm.
The Canadian car parts manufacturer was confirmed as the preferred bidder to buy GM Europe – which includes Vauxhall and Continental brand Opel – on Thursday. It is being backed by the Russian bank Sberbank.
But the move led to union claims that up to 840 jobs could be lost at the factory as shifts are cut by the new owner.
It was reported the Prime Minister could be pushing Magna to commit to building the new electric Ampera car at the plant.
GM is thought to want to build 220,000 of the hybrid model in the UK every year until 2015.
Brown will drop in on the factory for about an hour at around lunch time.
But he will have to leave by 2.30pm to make his speaking date at the TUC conference at the Echo Arena.
The under-fire PM is hoping to deliver a career-saving make-or-break speech to the UK’s workforce.
A source at the plant told the Daily Post: “This is a show of solidarity – ‘we’re behind you guys, don’t worry’.
