Last updated at 4:38 PM on 28th December 2011
In yet another pursuit of a cheap headline David Cameron took his Cabinet to the East Midlands city of Derby in March to demonstrate his government's support for manufacturing.
In only the second coalition Cabinet meeting outside London, the PM made clear they had gone to Derby to learn about the difficulties that businesses face.
Cameron, speaking at Rolls-Royce's factory in the city, said: 'The point of the Cabinet today is to ask one fundamental question: what is it that we can do in government to help the economy to rebalance, to grow and for businesses to start up, to invest and employ people?'
Questionable support: Cameron went to speak at Rolls-Royce's factory in Derby, having been keen to learn about the difficulties facing businesses
Devastating blow: Bombardier announced 1,400 job cuts after losing out on the Thameslink deal
Just three months later the shallowness of Cameron's away day was brutally exposed when the government gave a 1.4?billion contract to Siemens of Germany to build carriages for the north-south cross-London Thameslink.
The company that clearly thought it might win the contract was Bombardier, Britain's last remaining train factory, which is based in - Derby.
Securing the Thameslink contract was regarded as crucial for Bombardier as most of its orders will soon be completed. Bombardier announced 1,400 job cuts after losing out on the Thameslink deal.
Now Bombardier has won a 188 million contract to build 130 carriages for rail company Southern. It was part-funded with an 80m government subsidy.
The new Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: 'This deal for more than 100 new carriages is great news for rail passengers and brilliant news for Bombardier and Derby.'
It's not brilliant but it is a small comfort to the company and its workers who were shamefully treated by this government.
I never ever thought that I would agree with anything said by Bob Crow, the militant leader of the rail union the RMT. But he's right to say: 'The award of this contract does not let the government off the hook on the Thameslink contract.'
Of course it is good news for Bombardier but we should continue to press the government to get the Thameslink deal reversed and to ensure that the contracts for the much bigger Crossrail project stay in Britain.
Accurate: Bob Crow, the militant leader of the rail union the RMT, was right to suggest that the awarding of this contract does not excuse the Thameslink contract fiasco
After the March regional Cabinet meeting, George Osborne, the Chancellor, said: 'Derby is a great example of what Britain's economy should be in the future. And a strong endorsement of the importance of manufacturing industry.'
Tell that, Chancellor, to the 1,400 workers of Bombardier who have lost their job because of the government's astonishing decision to give work to a German company rather than one of our own.
This deal was drawn up and done and dusted by the last (new lie-bore) government so the actual awarding was a fait accompli
- richtom, Hants, 28/12/2011 17:34
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