Lord Mandelson sends harsh message to LDV
Black Country MP Ian Pearson (Lab, Dudley South) has met the executive spearheading the MBO bid, Erik Eberhardson, to consider the plans.
In a joint statement, Mr Byrne and Mr Eberhardson said: “We had a long and constructive meeting with Ian Pearson, the buyout team, LDV management and workforce representatives.
“Discussions are continuing and we continue to believe there is a viable long-term future for LDV.”
Despite being a senior minister, as head of the Cabinet Office, Mr Byrne faces an uphill struggle to convince his Government to back his proposals.
Mr Pearson said: “The prime responsibility for securing LDV’s future lies with its Russian parent GAZ. This is a multi-billion pound company. It should not just walk away from its workforce in Washwood Heath.”
Meanwhile Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham said at a high-profile Birmingham lecture that LDV was not making products people wanted to buy.
He told the third Annual Roger Dickens Lecture organised by Birmingham Forward: “I see companies suffering because they are not in touch with their customer base and are not manufacturing products people want to buy.”
