Union calls for regional government

Manufacturing, science and finance union MSF has launched a campaign for the establishment of elected regional assemblies in England, believing that elected regional government is the best method for regenerating areas that have been hit by the jobs crisis in manufacturing.

MSF general secretary Roger Lyons said: "Economic regeneration of the industrial regions of the UK must be a priority for this government, given its pledge on full employment in every region."

He added that "development funding from the European Union and central government is available and will be more effectively channelled through elected regional representatives with a stake in the success of the regeneration of their area."

The UK has already established devolved government in the shape of regional development agencies and assemblies, but eight of the regions of England are still without democratically elected representatives. According to Lyons, "the unelected regional agencies require the scrutiny of elected regional experts who understand how best to attract and retain regional inward investment, or they will fall behind Scotland and Wales."

Meanwhile manufacturing continues to haemorrhage jobs. Marconi, the troubled telecoms equipment multinational, last month said it is to cut another 2,000 jobs with about 600 going in the UK. The cuts come on top of the 8,000 already announced this year.

And electronics manufacturing firm Celestica has announced more than 1,000 job losses in the UK.