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Lloyds - Halifax merger sparks political row
THE huge shake-up of jobs expected within the enlarged Lloyds Banking Group has caused a political row.
Yorkshire Minister Rosie Winterton was criticised for a recent meeting with Lloyds TSB chairman Sir Victor Blank.
Tory MP for Forest of Dean Mark Harper said it was wrong for her to meet the banking chief ahead of the merger and push for jobs to be retained in Halifax and Yorkshire.
Sir Victor was presented with a dossier prepared by the Government-funded Yorkshire Forward promoting a "Yorkshire Solution" to the merger, which upset Mr Harper.
"The proposal would see jobs protected in Yorkshire at the expense of the 1,300 people employed by the former Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society based in the county which is now owned by Lloyds TSB," said Mr Harper.
"It is scandalous that a Government Minister should be involved in private discussions that set one part of our country against another. Ministers are meant to look out for the wellbeing of the entire country, not just their own patch.
"Lloyds TSB employees in Gloucestershire are just as entitled to support from Government Ministers as those in Yorkshire."
Ms Winterton has responded by writing to regional Conservative MPs over the furoe.
She said: "I am concerned that Mark Harper has called my decision to meet with the Lloyds TSB Chairman `scandalous`.
"Mr Harper has also criticised the fact that I and Yorkshire Forward have put together a document making the case for retaining jobs in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
"As you are aware, HBoS employs 13,000 people in the region and any long-term decisions taken that effect its structure will have a very direct impact on the Yorkshire and the Humber economy. I have made it one of my priorities to support the financial services sector in our region. This is a case that I will continue to argue."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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