FORD MUST COMMIT TO BRIGHTER TOMORROW AFTER PLANT'S DARK DAY- GIDLEY

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 15th Sep 2008

Reacting to the news that production at Ford's Southampton plant will be halved from 2011, city MP Sandra Gidley said:

"This news is a hammer blow to over a thousand workers, their families and the wider city and my heart goes out to those who will be out of work.

"However, I know how highly skilled Ford's workers are and I'm confident that they will be able to find alternative employment in due course. Of course, I and my colleagues will do all we can to help them to do this.

"I now hope that Ford can commit to a more secure future in Southampton. Whilst this announcement proves that the company wants to remain in the city in the short term, the remainder of the workforce need to know that they can look forward to a brighter tomorrow."

ENDS