Owen Smith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, commenting on news about Bombardier in Northern Ireland, said:

“This damaging ruling was widely predicted and yet our government appears to have done very little of substance to persuade either Boeing to withdraw its claim or the US Administration to rule against it.

“I wrote to the Prime Minister a fortnight ago, urging her to speak out in support of 4,000 Bombardier workers in Belfast just as vigorously as her Canadian counterpart has done, but she has failed to act.

“Justin Trudeau said clearly that he would cancel contracts with Boeing if they persisted with their unreasonable action, yet Mrs May has refused to use our commercial and economic clout in the same way.

“Such complacency is totally unacceptable, and Bombardier workers and British industry more broadly, needs the Government to get a backbone and stand up for our interests.”

ends