By Phil Hazlewood, PA News
Longbridge workers gave a thumbs-up from behind the main Q gate entrance and
sounded their horns as news of the sell-off to the Phoenix consortium
filtered through.
Production worker Roger Voice, 44, from Northfields, Birmingham said: "It's
magic news but I would have to say what is the long-term plan? It's
brilliant. But it's going to take at least 12 months to turn it around."
Dave Crowley, 27, emerged from the plant in his Land Rover Freelander 4x4 to
say the news was good not just for the workers at Rover but also for his
components company.
"I think it's wonderful news. It's the best thing that could have happened.
"Mr Towers knows what he's doing. He's going to be all right. I'm a lot
happier than yesterday."
Meanwhile, remains of the defiant protest by Rover workers against the
proposed sell-off to Alchemy, which collapsed, still stood at the plant.
In the shadow of Rover flags and a sign showing the car company's car
marques, two Union flags fluttered next to a cardboard cut-out of a British
bulldog and a banner saying: "Rover will not die."
Later, one of the most high profile protesters during the dispute arrived at
the sprawling complex.
Ray Egan, who dresses as John Bull, said that he was "overjoyed" at the news
and clutched a bottle of champagne in celebration.
The 62-year-old former policeman, from Harborne, Birmingham said: "I'm dead
chuffed. I have just been home and I've got my bottle of bubbly ready.
"With the right promotion in the future I'm sure the company will go from
strength to strength. I'm pleased for the workers, for this great city of
Birmingham and our country Great Britain."
John Hemming, who kick-started the Phoenix bid, arrived at Longbridge to meet
workers and pose for pictures.
He said the deal was good news for all those connected with Rover, including
the supply industry and Rover dealerships.
One Birmingham-based Rover dealer, John Leek, said the news would be welcomed
by his colleagues in the car market.
Mr Leek, chairman of All Electric Garages Group plc in Harborne, said: "We
are delighted because all we have ever wanted is continuity and as we have
seen, there has been an unprecedented success in sales over the last month.
"Prices were reduced but if the price is right then people will buy."
Mr Leek said his company was "100% behind" Mr Towers.
Meanwhile workers at the Longbridge plant gave their reaction to the news.
Roller test worker Dave Gibbs, of Rednal, Birmingham, said: "I heard the news
on the radio this morning and it was a surprise. Let's hope it's going to be
better.
"There's going to be job losses and that's going to be a shame but it's a
better deal than Alchemy Partners. This is the best deal we have at the
moment.
"The sun is shining. Let's hope that's a good omen," he said.
Logistics worker Damji Ladwa, from Moseley, Birmingham, said: "At 10.30 this
morning we were called into the office in groups and the announcement was
made that Phoenix were taking over Rover.
"Everybody's happy that we have still got a job and a future to build quality
cars."
Scott Johnston, 38, from Winson Green, Birmingham, builds seats at the
factory and has been there for 11 years.
He said: "I heard the news from my wife this morning. The mood is great
amongst the lads and now we are safe for a bit. Everyone's overjoyed.
"They're saying there's going to be 1,000 job losses but I think they're
going to get that through natural wastage, from people who want to go.
"It's a better deal than Alchemy Partners. All they were going to do was
break us up," he said.
Council officials from the two local authorities in which the Longbridge
plant falls also welcomed the Phoenix deal.
Councillor Albert Bore, leader of the Labour-controlled Birmingham city
council, said: "This is great news for the Rover workforce and their families
and great news for Birmingham and the West Midlands.
"Volume car manufacturing will continue at Longbridge which is what many of
us hoped for but in some respects the battle has just begun."
Mr Bore, who is also a member of the Government-appointed Rover Taskforce,
added that marketing of the new models being built at the Longbridge plant
would have to be "better handled than it was by BMW".
"I am sure the Phoenix consortium will rise to that challenge and that we can
look forward to a long period of car production at Longbridge."
Nick Psirides, leader of Conservative-controlled Bromsgrove district council
and a former Rover worker of 30 years, said: "I'm absolutely delighted at the
Phoenix success. All our hopes and prayers are that it isn't a short-term
solution."
Bromsgrove MP Julia Kirkbride said today's news was "heartening" for the
workers and for her constituents.
Last week the situation looked "incredibly bleak," she said. "Now we have a
great deal of hope. We still want to know many of the details, certainly
about the level of employment that is envisaged bearing in mind they are
cutting production levels in half and for the long term."
The Conservative MP added that she would be pushing Trade and Industry
Secretary Stephen Byers for answers on the exact nature of the deal.
Speaking about the effect on her constituents, Ms Kirkbride said: "They have
lived through a nightmare, not just over the last few months but the last
couple of years where there have been significant job losses and terrible
uncertainty.
"People know we are not out of the woods yet but there has been a major step
forward today."
Outside the factory at lunchtime workers emerged from their shift in jubilant
mood.
Many gathered in a nearby park for an impromptu show of support for and
celebration of the Phoenix deal.
Singing "There's only one Rover Longbridge" and "We shall not be moved" they
held aloft copies of the Birmingham Evening Mail proudly displaying the
headline "It's A Deal".
But Rover workers at Cowley, resigned to more job losses, reacted bitterly to
the Phoenix deal.
Roy Morris, who like many workers heard the news over the radio, said: "We've
got rid of one model (the 75) and we've got no car here at all, it's
ridiculous.
"What are we going to do about our factory, there's no future?"
The 28-year-old personnel officer said that even the Mini, which BMW has
promised to manufacture at Cowley, offered little hope.
"But will it sell? We haven't seen it, we've got no idea what's happening
with it. It's not looking good, really.
"What sort of company tells a radio station before it tells its employees?"
Mr Morris added: "BMW tells us a lot of things. Its all about money, they
don't care about people's lives."
Contractors felt especially vulnerable. Kevin Buckley works for Plastic
Omnium making bumpers on the Rover 75.
But the 22-year-old said: "We've got no guarantees. We've heard that the
contract for making interiors, fittings and headlights has gone to a
Bicester-based firm called Magna. But nobody has told us anything.
"I'm just sick of the lying, the deceit and leaving us in the dark until the
last minute."
Factory worker Graham Brough had the same resigned expression on his face as
the dozens of other Rover employees returning to the plant after their lunch
break.
Mr Brough, 51, said: "We were suddenly told today that the Rover (75) was
going to Longbridge. We don't know what is going to happen yet."
Darren Lewis, 34, a support worker with JRI Technologies at the plant, said:
"It's not looking very good - and I'm married and have a 13-year-old to
support."
Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris said today's news meant there were now
"real concerns" about the short-term and long-term future of the Cowley
plant.
Dr Harris, who represents Oxford West and Abingdon, spoke to BMW after news
of the Longbridge deal.
"BMW have today confirmed to me that there will be a gap between the loss of
the 75 and the arrival of the new Mini at Cowley, and despite flexibility
arrangements we need urgent reassurances about jobs.
"I would like a written declaration of no redundancies at Cowley to maintain
confidence.
"The Government must ensure that it does not see Rover as simply a Birmingham
issue. This shows the effect of the overvalued pound on UK manufacturing hits
north, midlands and the south."
He added: "This shows the Government cannot be complacent about
manufacturing; if it claims credit for job creation it will be expected to
take the blame for job losses."
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