Last week I met with UNITE union representatives to discuss the potential hostile takeover of the UK engineering company GKN.

The GKN site in Filton, where I met the reps, employs 1,600 people and is an integral part of the aerospace supply chain in Bristol and the wider city region. We discussed the impact the hostile takeover would have for potential job losses and how they can organise against it.

Later in the week, UNITE reps came to the West of England Joint Committee meeting (for the leaders of North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and Bristol Councils). It was unanimously agreed that a joint letter would be sent to Secretary of State Greg Clark requesting action in this matter of public interest.

The clear message is that a hostile takeover is unwanted by the workers, management and wider community. The campaign to stop it has cross-party and cross-border support and the government should step in to protect these jobs.

Our letter is below: