Sarah Champion MP Calls for Action to Prevent Redundancies at Rolls-Royce in Rotherham

Sarah Champion MP, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has called on the Government to do everything that it can to prevent substantial job losses at Rolls-Royce’s Rotherham site.

Rolls-Royce is proposing to 79 redundancies in Rotherham, more than 30% of the existing workforce. The redundancies come as part of major cuts across Rolls-Royce’s UK workforce as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant impact upon the aviation sector.

Commenting on the proposals, Sarah said:

“The loss of such a sizable proportion of Rolls-Royce’s Rotherham workforce would be a huge blow to our local economy. These are skilled, well paid jobs with a prestige employer. I am deeply alarmed, both for those facing unemployment in the most challenging of circumstances and for the wider impact these redundancies are likely to have across our town and our region.”

Sarah is engaged discussions with both Rolls-Royce and trade unions and has written to the Government to urge immediate action to protect jobs.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sarah wrote:

“The Government has frequently spoken of its ambition to ‘level-up’ the British economy and to stimulate growth in the North of England in particular. Yet the loss of jobs at Rolls-Royce represents a huge blow to this supposed agenda.”

Commenting on the urgent need for Government intervention, Sarah said:

“If the Government is serious about levelling up, it cannot stand idly by while Rolls-Royce cuts a third of its workforce in my constituency. The Advanced Manufacturing Plant, where Rolls-Royce is based, is the jewel in the crown of our local economy and has played host to numerous ministerial visits over the years. The Government is well aware of the importance of the facility.’

‘Rolls-Royce has received substantial public money, both before and during the pandemic. I firmly believe that this financial support should be contingent upon protecting UK jobs. The Government must use every tool at its disposal to protect jobs that, were it not for the pandemic, would not now be at risk.”

Sarah continued:

“I will be doing everything I can to defend local jobs and to support those whose livelihoods are at risk. The Government owes it to my constituents to do the same.”

Sarah’s letter is available here