Media Centre

Blunkett says "No to 55"

Rt Hon David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough, has attacked the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition’s proposal to raise the threshold for a successful no confidence motion in the House of Commons.

The plan, announced in the two parties’ coalition agreement, would require 55% of MPs to agree to a motion of no confidence in the Government for it to fall. Historically, a simple majority of MPs was all that was required.

Mr Blunkett said: “This is a profoundly anti-democratic move by the proponents of what is supposed to be the ‘new politics’.

“The numbers mean that it would be impossible, even if every opposition MP united against this coalition, for the House to express its lack of confidence in it.

“This is nothing less than a stitch-up by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to overturn historic precedents for their own advantage. If Labour had attempted something like this in government, the Lib Dems in particular would have been incandescent.

“Combined with David Cameron’s decision to downgrade the post of Leader of the House of Commons from a full member of the Cabinet, this speaks to a profound lack of respect for Parliament and to the sort of precedents which the Conservatives are supposed to hold so dear.”

ENDS

Blunkett expresses disappointment at Kraft reorganisation

Rt Hon David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough, has expressed his disappointment with Kraft after they announced changes to their research and head office arrangements which will adversely impact on Sheffield.

Kraft announced that they would be expanding their research capacity by concentrating all research and development work in Bournville, while moving all scientific work this side of the Atlantic to their site in Reading. The company’s head offices will be consolidated into Bournville and Uxbridge.

This may result in up to 100 jobs being transferred away from the Sheffield Trebor Bassett site.

Mr Blunkett said: “On a generous interpretation, Kraft have stuck to their commitment, as made to me last year, not to reduce manufacturing output and related jobs in Sheffield.

“However, transferring 100 jobs to Bournville in Birmingham – even with a promise of consultation on transfer or redeployment – is bad news for the Sheffield economy. We can ill-afford to see 100 jobs transferred elsewhere, no matter what good news it might be for other hard-pressed areas of the country.

“I have spoken to Kraft and reiterated my call for the American senior management of the new, combined company to visit Sheffield as soon as possible – and to recognise that the quality of the workforce, the stability and the overall cost factors should benefit expansion here, rather than further south.

“The timing of Kraft’s announcement, so soon after a General Election, is, to say the least, interesting.”

ENDS