Deputy PM challenged over Ford closure (From Daily Echo)
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Deputy PM challenged over Ford closure
2:20pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News
By Tom Moseley, Parliamentary Correspondent
Deputy PM challenged over Ford closure
DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg has been challenged over the closure of the Ford plant in Southampton.
The Liberal Democrat leader was asked whether the Swaythling site could be set up as a business-friendly enterprise zone to replace some of the jobs lost following the closure.
Enterprise zones, like the one already in operation on the former HMS Daedalus site in Lee-on-the-Solent, have low business rates and relaxed planning rules to encourage companies to set up there.
Speaking at an event in London today, Southampton City Council leader Richard Williams told Mr Clegg: "Things are not all rosy in the Southampton area at the moment."
He said: "The question is, given the difficulties that we're experiencing at the moment, particularly around the Ford plant at Southampton, is there opportunity...to include that area in a new enterprise zone?"
Mr Clegg said the Ford announcement had been "very bad news", and said it was up to local leaders to put forward a case for new powers for the area.
He was speaking as the government offered to hand over swathes of new powers and funding to council leaders in 20 areas of the country, including Southampton and Portsmouth.
As reported in the Echo, leaders of the two councils will present a bid to the government asking for specific powers to boost growth in the Solent region. This could include control over buses or tax-raising powers.
Mr Clegg said: "The deals are unlocking the huge potential of our cities so they can go for growth.
Comments(12)
Linesman
says...
2:56pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Cyber__Fug wrote:With anyone else in charge while the country is being run by this band of incompetents.
Speaking at an event in London today, Southampton City Council leader Richard Williams told Mr Clegg: "Things are not all rosy in the Southampton area at the moment."
It'll only get worse with Williams in charge too !
Over the Edge
says...
3:13pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Cyber__Fug wrote:Especially if central Government keeps hacking to death the public sector and increasing their cuts.
Speaking at an event in London today, Southampton City Council leader Richard Williams told Mr Clegg: "Things are not all rosy in the Southampton area at the moment."
It'll only get worse with Williams in charge too !
Even Royston and his Tory chums would have struggled to balance the books without making job cuts at the council.
Of course neither Labour or Tory councillors would have prevented Fords closing.
localnews
says...
3:45pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Paramjit Bahia
says...
3:59pm Mon 29 Oct 12
How can anybody take him seriously when he is the leader of Council, which itself is also hell bent on destroying jobs.
As a person Williams also is supporter of the party that has ditched all its old principles and whose current leader actually boasted that he is inspired by Tory Disraeli...
Difficult to decide who is the worse Clegg or the Dear Leader Williams. So I call it a draw.
Linesman
says...
4:16pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Paramjit Bahia wrote:OK! Enough of your criticisms of each and everyone who holds office, what is your solution?
Dear Leader Cllr. Williams lip service to disastrous situation created by Ford may sound nice, but his actual policies and real views can hardly be the solution to the problem, but in fact are the cause.
How can anybody take him seriously when he is the leader of Council, which itself is also hell bent on destroying jobs.
As a person Williams also is supporter of the party that has ditched all its old principles and whose current leader actually boasted that he is inspired by Tory Disraeli...
Difficult to decide who is the worse Clegg or the Dear Leader Williams. So I call it a draw.
Which party or person would you support at the next election?
With some of the comments that you have made, I assume that you must be in a party of about half a dozen, which would tend to indicate why you disagree with everyone.
If your ideas were credible and popular, then the majority would agree with you, and there would be representation.
As it is, as the electorate March to the Ballot Box, you appear to be the one who is out of step.
madmike
says...
6:54pm Mon 29 Oct 12
cantthinkofone
says...
7:15pm Mon 29 Oct 12
andysaints007
says...
8:16pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Paramjit Bahia
says...
3:16am Tue 30 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:For an intelligent person you have made very silly assumptions.
Paramjit Bahia wrote:OK! Enough of your criticisms of each and everyone who holds office, what is your solution?
Dear Leader Cllr. Williams lip service to disastrous situation created by Ford may sound nice, but his actual policies and real views can hardly be the solution to the problem, but in fact are the cause.
How can anybody take him seriously when he is the leader of Council, which itself is also hell bent on destroying jobs.
As a person Williams also is supporter of the party that has ditched all its old principles and whose current leader actually boasted that he is inspired by Tory Disraeli...
Difficult to decide who is the worse Clegg or the Dear Leader Williams. So I call it a draw.
Which party or person would you support at the next election?
With some of the comments that you have made, I assume that you must be in a party of about half a dozen, which would tend to indicate why you disagree with everyone.
If your ideas were credible and popular, then the majority would agree with you, and there would be representation.
As it is, as the electorate March to the Ballot Box, you appear to be the one who is out of step.
I am not member of any party, and you are also wrong in suggesting that I write against everybody holding office or position.
Shoong
says...
9:36am Tue 30 Oct 12
Paramjit Bahia wrote:You were a member of a party until you got kicked out, didn't you?
Linesman wrote:For an intelligent person you have made very silly assumptions.
Paramjit Bahia wrote:OK! Enough of your criticisms of each and everyone who holds office, what is your solution?
Dear Leader Cllr. Williams lip service to disastrous situation created by Ford may sound nice, but his actual policies and real views can hardly be the solution to the problem, but in fact are the cause.
How can anybody take him seriously when he is the leader of Council, which itself is also hell bent on destroying jobs.
As a person Williams also is supporter of the party that has ditched all its old principles and whose current leader actually boasted that he is inspired by Tory Disraeli...
Difficult to decide who is the worse Clegg or the Dear Leader Williams. So I call it a draw.
Which party or person would you support at the next election?
With some of the comments that you have made, I assume that you must be in a party of about half a dozen, which would tend to indicate why you disagree with everyone.
If your ideas were credible and popular, then the majority would agree with you, and there would be representation.
As it is, as the electorate March to the Ballot Box, you appear to be the one who is out of step.
I am not member of any party, and you are also wrong in suggesting that I write against everybody holding office or position.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
9:40pm Tue 30 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:Shooing, you could not have missed noticing that I normally do not respond to you and some others of your types.
Paramjit Bahia wrote:You were a member of a party until you got kicked out, didn't you?
Linesman wrote:For an intelligent person you have made very silly assumptions.
Paramjit Bahia wrote:OK! Enough of your criticisms of each and everyone who holds office, what is your solution?
Dear Leader Cllr. Williams lip service to disastrous situation created by Ford may sound nice, but his actual policies and real views can hardly be the solution to the problem, but in fact are the cause.
How can anybody take him seriously when he is the leader of Council, which itself is also hell bent on destroying jobs.
As a person Williams also is supporter of the party that has ditched all its old principles and whose current leader actually boasted that he is inspired by Tory Disraeli...
Difficult to decide who is the worse Clegg or the Dear Leader Williams. So I call it a draw.
Which party or person would you support at the next election?
With some of the comments that you have made, I assume that you must be in a party of about half a dozen, which would tend to indicate why you disagree with everyone.
If your ideas were credible and popular, then the majority would agree with you, and there would be representation.
As it is, as the electorate March to the Ballot Box, you appear to be the one who is out of step.
I am not member of any party, and you are also wrong in suggesting that I write against everybody holding office or position.
Only doing this time because of your implying that I was kicked out of the party (I think by that you mean Labour) is a lie, probably your own imagination.
Cyber__Fug says...
2:44pm Mon 29 Oct 12
It'll only get worse with Williams in charge too !