WITH a general election just months away the political row over the future of the Airbus plant in Broughton is hotting up.
Conservatives have accused Labour of ‘scaremongering’ by claiming a Tory government would scrap the A400M military plane contract, putting jobs at Broughton at risk.
Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative candidate for Delyn, dismissed Labour’s claims as ‘pure fabrication’ and warned the ongoing speculation could damage Airbus’ international reputation.
The Tories have made no specific statements on military contracts – including the A400M – but are committed to holding a strategic defence review if they win the election, she said.
“Airbus provides thousands of local, well-paid, highly skilled jobs and competes on a global scale”, said Miss Sandbach.
“Recent comments about the A400M project are extremely damaging to Airbus’ future and its reputation, and damage morale among the local workforce.
“They undermine confidence in the plant, are deeply unhelpful, and a deliberate attempt at scaremongering.
“As a party we have said we will conduct a proper defence review in government to ensure that investment and spending match our strategic defence commitments.”
During a visit to Mold in May, Conservative leader David Cameron dismissed claims by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami that a Tory government would cancel the £2.7bn A400M project.
Mr Tami had claimed such a move would ‘destroy Flintshire’s aerospace industry’ and have dire consequences for 7,000 workers at Broughton.
Mr Tami then went onto accuse the Tories of trying to ‘spin their way’ out of the issue, adding: “In 1979 Mrs Thatcher had no plans to axe 10,000 jobs at Shotton Steelworks, but she couldn’t give cast-iron assurances of support for that site either.”