UK manufacturing is driving economic recovery – Birtwistle

Commenting on figures showing UK manufacturing growth at a two and half year high, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, Gordon Birtwistle said:

"The Liberal Democrats have helped to create more than a million jobs in the private sector - now we want to help create a million more. Manufacturing is absolutely crucial to that and UK manufacturing growth hitting a two and a half year high is fantastic news.

"These figures are welcome but there is a long way to go. For years Labour and Conservative governments let British manufacturing collapse, the Liberal Democrats are determined to rebuild it in order to drive our economic recovery.

"That's why we are putting billions of pounds into high-tech manufacturing, science and renewable energy. And it's why we are massively increasing the number of apprenticeships to make sure employers get the skilled workers they need."

The Facts

1. For more on the Liberal Democrats A Million Jobs for a Stronger Economy campaign, see here: http://www.amillionjobs.org/
2. The figures, from the Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager's Index, are available here: http://www.markiteconomics.com/Survey/PressRelease.mvc/89b62348c597490698dae25b0324e7a7