A number of MPs, including the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy, visited British Glass member NSG Pilkington to discuss the growing impact of soaring energy and carbon costs on the UK glass industry.
Jonathan Reynolds MP was joined at Pilkington’s Greengate Works site by the Shadow Minister for Energy and Manufacturing Bill Esterson MP, as well as Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, for talks surrounding the on-going crisis and a tour of the glassmaking facilities.
Following the visit, Mr Reynolds MP announced measures from Labour to address the energy crisis, which has seen manufacturer’s gas and energy bills quadruple and triple respectively, including the creation of a £600 million contingency fund.
Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy said:
“Soaring energy bills, a wave of cancellations and crippling inflation have left British firms unnecessarily on the brink. The Government has been asleep at the wheel, with British firms, especially those energy-intensive businesses, paying the price.
“The Conservative’s ambivalence towards British business is simply unacceptable. Viable firms risk going to the wall because of Government failures over the last decade.
“Labour’s plan will help consumers and businesses weather this crisis, and we will fix the broken energy market to support British businesses to prosper.”
British Glass CEO Dave Dalton said:
“Government inaction is only deepening the impact on the glass industry and other energy intensive industries, so it is great to see the Shadow Secretary for Business and Industrial Strategy and other ministers taking our warnings seriously.
“We appreciate the Rt hon Mr Reynolds MP, Mr Esterson MP and Ms Rimmer MP for taking the time to engage with our members and see for themselves the very real threat posed by the energy crisis and just how important glass manufacturers are to the UK economy.”
