Dear Sir
Please see e-mail I sent to both Hitachi Rail, Newton Aycliffe and Nissan at Sunderland and the reply received from Hitachi.
I refer to an article in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle in which the MP for Sedgefield, Mr Phil Wilson says “HRE (Hitachi) are here because of our membership of the EU and the access to the single market that allows them to sell to Europe”.
Nissan in Sunderland: “Speaking recently, Nissan’s Chief Performance Officer, Trevor Mann, hailed Britain as a ‘bridgehead to European markets’ – that was the reason Sunderland was chosen as the location for the new luxury Infinity Q30 models to be manufactured”.
There is an implication by MP Phil Wilson in the above referenced article that the management of Hitachi and Nissan were not aware of the likelihood of a Referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the EU when Hitachi chose to locate their Plant in Newton Aycliffe and Nissan chose Sunderland as the location for building the new Infinity Q30 Models.
Please would you advise if this was indeed the case in respect of your Company. Also, please advise if your Company anticipates any downturn in its sales with the rump of the EU, should Britain leave the EU.
Regards,
Alastair Welsh.
Below is the reply received from Hitachi Rail:
Dear Alastair,
Many thanks for your email.
We have noted the comments in the Newcastle Chronicle attributed to Phil Wilson MP, which are his own.
A draft EU Referendum Bill was introduced as a Private Members Bill in June 2013, following the PM’s speech in January 2013 stating that an EU renegotiation would take place followed by an in-out vote if the Conservative Party was able to secure a majority in 2015.
Hitachi Rail Europe has, therefore, been fully aware of the prospect of an EU referendum. Whatever the outcome of this, our company retains a long-term commitment to manufacturing trains in the UK at its Rail Vehicle Manufacturing Facility at Newton Aycliffe.
Kindest regards,
Paul Barker.
From the above exchange of e-mails it is clear that the newest and potentially the biggest employer in Phil Wilson’s Sedgefield Constituency does not fear a ‘Leave Europe’ Referendum result. Indeed, they took the possibility into account prior to locating here.  It’s a pity he chose to misrepresent them!
The International Banks, and Financial Institutions are now allied to The Labour Party and your MP (strange bedfellows) in the fear campaign to get a ‘Stay In’ vote. Tony Blair did not even want a democratic referendum on Europe.  Remember also, Labour blame the Banks for the financial collapse while the Banks blame Labour. They both can’t be right!
Is it not time for us to say “a plague on all your houses” and to exercise our free and democratic right to LEAVE EU and govern ourselves? Those who want us to stay in the EU are the same people and organisations who wanted us to join the Euro.
That has proved to be a disaster that could yet bring down Europe and Britain with it. Current EU member countries want us to stay in the EU, not to benefit us but to try and prop up their failed enterprise.
Alastair P.G. Welsh
Millfields, Aycliffe Village

MP Replies

‘The European Union is important to the UK for jobs, prosperity and security. Dozens of Aycliffe businesses on our industrial estate either trade with the EU or supply companies that do. Over 80% of companies in Aycliffe want the UK to stay in the EU.
Over half of the 10,000 jobs employed on the industrial estate are linked to trade with the European Union. I do not want any of this jeopardised. We must remain a member. Membership gives UK business access to the largest market place in the world. Hitachi Rail Europe, which has brought 730 jobs to the town has stated publicly that they want the UK stay in the EU.
The company wants to manufacture trains in Aycliffe and export them to Europe creating many more jobs. If we left the European Union that would become harder to do. The same goes for Gestamp, which employs 1300 local people. They know membership is important for jobs and growth.
Those who say we should leave the European Union, now have the moral duty to tell the British people what ‘out’ looks like. Those campaigning for the UK to leave the EU cannot answer that question. They know what they are against, but not what they are for. I’m not prepared to put at risk the jobs, prosperity and security of the people in Aycliffe and indeed the North East.
In the coming referendum on our membership of the EU I will be voting for the UK to remain a member. Of course the EU needs reform, but we need to be in it to change it. Reform is a process not an event. We need to be outward looking and not pull up the drawbridge on the rest of the world. For our jobs, prosperity and security we need to remain in Europe.
Phil Wilson M.P.