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HBOS takeover: Top politician backs campaign to save jobs
THE Courier campaign to save HBOS jobs in Halifax has the backing of a top Yorkshire politician.
Rosie Winterton (pictured) was meeting Lloyds TSB chiefs today along with regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.
Meanwhile Halifax MP Linda Riordan, who is also supporting the drive, has vowed to fight "around the clock" to keep jobs and has organised a public meeting for concerned staff and residents.
Ms Winterton, the Regional Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, said the HBOS facilities and staff in Halifax were an asset and she would be pressing the case for them to be retained.
"There are good persuasive reasons to make sure when commercial decisions are made Lloyds TSB has the full picture of what is on offer," she said
"HBOS operations at Halifax have a great deal of expertise, an excellent skills base, low staff turnover, loyalty and commitment.
"These are attributes any organisation would be proud of and a great asset to any business.
"There is a strong commercial case to see operations in Calderdale and across this region and I will be making this point strongly."
The Minister, who has already had discussions with HBOS, said she wanted a commitment that Lloyds TSB will work with herself, Yorkshire Forward, local authorities, and HBOS employees to ensure they are all kept informed.
"I don't want anyone to underestimate Yorks-hire grit. Or talk down what a great place this region is to do business, invest, visit and live in," she said.
"I will be making the business case for this region because it is a strong one."
Mrs Riordan, who is also putting pressure on the Government to help in the fight, said: "One job loss as a result of this merger would be one too many as far as I am concerned.
"Staff at HBOS just want to know their jobs are safe. Not next week, not in a month but now."
She added that the public meeting, at Nalgo Bar, Northgate House, Halifax, at 6.30pm on Thursday, will be a chance for people to air their feelings.
"I have asked HBOS managers and union officials to attend and I would urge as many people as possible to attend."
An emergency resolution has also been placed at the Labour Party conference, calling for HBOS jobs to be protected.
Fellow West Yokshire MP Barry Sheerman has also waded in, pledging to fight for the jobs.
A HBOS spokesman said: "The group has a long and proud heritage in Yorkshire.
"We have a proven record of carefully managing our responsibilities in every community we operate in.
"Colleagues will inevitably have concerns and we are working closely with them as this deal progresses."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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