Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, commenting on the news that Rolls-Royce is slashing up to 8,000 jobs, about a third of its civil aerospace business, said:

“UK aerospace manufacturing is world-leading and supports thousands of highly paid, decent jobs in parts of the country where they are needed most – the Midlands, North Wales and the North West.

“There is more the Government can and must do to save this important sector, which is also critical for our defence capability, and it’s now an urgent task.”