Sarwar targets England’s mayors in ‘bus summit’ – Daily Business

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is convening a “bus summit” with Metro Mayors in England following Alexander Dennis’s plan to close its Larbert factory.

The summit aims to boost collaboration and learn from Mayors who have already, or are set to, buy buses from domestic manufacturers—including Alexander Dennis—as they create their own regional transport networks.

Mr Sarwar is demanding that the Scottish Government prioritises domestic bus manufacturers, like Alexander Dennis’s site in Scotland instead of sending contracts abroad as the SNP have continually done.

He said a future Scottish Labour Government would work with Mayors to ensure domestic manufacturers have a coordinated pipeline of work to give greater certainty to businesses and workers.

The Scottish Labour Leader has invited the Mayors of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire and North East England to the summit, which will be held this summer.

Andy Burnham’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority has already purchased over 160 buses from the Alexander Dennis factory in Larbert—almost four times as many as the SNP Scottish Government, while Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram recently ordered almost 58 electric vehicles.

The UK Labour Government’s Spending Review confirmed £15.6bn of transport funding for mayoral authorities, which is expected to mean an additional £1.5bn for the Scottish Government’s budget.

Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, Mayor of North East England, Kim McGuinness and West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin are now set to purchase hundreds of buses in the coming years.

This summit also aligns with the work of UK Labour Government’s UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. This panel brings together industry experts and local leaders to explore ways to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing.

Mr Sarwar, said: “I won’t sit back while jobs are under threat at Alexander Dennis in Larbert.

“I’ve called this summit to look at how we secure more work for domestic manufacturers but I also want to learn from Mayors like Andy Burnham who has already ensured that contracts go to Scottish and British firms.

“It’s frankly a scandal that the Mayor of Greater Manchester has managed to buy almost four times as many buses from Scotland as the SNP Scottish Government.  A future Scottish Labour Government will make sure that Scottish workers are put first. 

“While the SNP fail Scottish manufacturing, Scottish Labour will stand up for workers and businesses here.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “I’m proud that Greater Manchester has invested in Scottish and British manufacturing as we’ve built the Bee Network.

“The workforce at Alexander Dennis in Larbert are outstanding and the buses they’ve built for our city-region are the core of the Bee Network.

“Following the Chancellor’s Spending Review, we now have an opportunity, as mayors, to maximise the funding we’ve secured and create a pipeline of work for companies here.

“This summit, convened by Anas Sarwar, is a key opportunity for mayors and Scottish Labour to work together, looking at how we can all provide greater certainty for our domestic manufacturers and workers like those at Alexander Dennis.”

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: “I welcome Anas Sarwar’s leadership in bringing England’s Metro Mayors together – it’s the kind of united, people-powered leadership needed to safeguard jobs at Alexander Dennis.

“This summit gives us the chance to pool our buying power, create a clear pipeline of work for an outstanding Scottish workforce and their supply chains, and underpin greener, more affordable transport networks that communities can rely on.

“And I’m really proud of my record of supporting Great British manufacturing. Here in the Liverpool City Region,we’ve just ordered more than 60 more buses from Alexander Dennis. Every one of those buses we’ve commissioned has helped keep families in work, support local suppliers and will formed the backbone of our modern, cleaner bus network.

“That virtuous circle of jobs, innovation and sustainability is exactly what Scotland could reap under a Labour First Minister.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I have pledged to make the North East bus fleet fully electric as soon as possible, as part of my plans to bring buses back under public control. I would love to buy buses from Scottish and UK-based manufacturers, it makes no sense to have to go abroad for green technology when we already have the skills and capacity just over the border in Scotland.”

Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “Our transport revolution in West Yorkshire will not only connect our region, but has the opportunity to create jobs and kickstart growth across the country as the Labour Party renews Britain. Sensible procurement backing British businesses can maximise our potential to safeguard jobs and bring prosperity to communities like Larbert.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “As we build the clean, electric vehicles to connect our communities to opportunities, I want to make sure we also help create good jobs here.

“I’m pleased to be able to join Anas and Mayors from across England as we look to create good jobs and certainty for Scottish and British businesses as we buy the buses South Yorkshire needs.”