Government committed to finding ‘best outcome' for Spirit AeroSystems workers in NI, says PM
In a response to a question asked at Prime Minister's Questions by North Down MP Alex Easton, Sir Keir Starmer said Spirit was an 'important case'.
Trade Unions have previously voiced concerns for the future of thousands of jobs of workers at Spirit AeroSystems, after Airbus confirmed it was going to purchase only certain parts of the current business.
News Catch Up - Wednesday 11th June 2025
While this would maintain the jobs of 1,400 people in east Belfast, there are 2,000 staff at other parts of the company in NI who are unsure as to which company will ultimately own the firm.
Trade unions have called on Westminster to insist on one buyer taking on all parts of the business in any potential deal.
They argue this would better serve the current staff, and better protect their jobs going forward.
Speaking in the Commons, Alex Easton said: "Prime Minister, there are significant concerns around potential job losses at Spirit AeroSystems stemming from the deal with Airbus.
"Would the Prime Minister agree with me and intervene to bring all the main players including the unions, the business secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland around the table to ensure these jobs are protected, especially considering the scale of the issue is akin to the challenge faced by British Steel?"
"There is an issue where Northern Ireland businesses, with the outworking of the Northern Ireland protocol and the Windsor Framework, can the Prime Minister give me reassurances that he's working to resolve all those issues?'
In response to the MP's question, the Mr Starmer said: "I'm grateful to him for raising this important case of Spirit AeroSystems in Northern Ireland.
"I know how how important it is for the workforce. I've visited them myself on more than one occasion.
"Airbus' decision to expand UK operations is good news for the sector and testament to world class manufacturing expertise, and I want to see those high-skilled jobs protected.
"The Northern Ireland Secretary has met Airbus, the trade unions and Assembly representatives to discuss the best outcome.
"The minister of industry is continuing engagement with stakeholders.
"We will do everything we can in relation to situation, and I'm grateful to him for raising it."
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Ignore the bluster: as Netanyahu starves Gaza, the world is turning on him – and he knows it
'No one likes us, we don't care.' It may be rousing on the stadium terraces of south London, as the signature chant for Millwall football club, but as a national strategy it's a disaster. Even so, Israel has become a Millwall among the nations, apparently unbothered by and impervious to the condemnation of a watching world – condemnation which this week gained serious momentum. As one country after another pointed an accusing finger towards Israel, repelled by the starvation, devastation and bloodshed it has brought down on Gaza, Israeli officials offered the now-familiar middle finger in return. When Keir Starmer announced Britain's intention to recognise a state of Palestine, it was swiftly brushed aside by the deputy mayor of Jerusalem as 'much ado about nothing'. There was a similarly dismissive reaction to both France's earlier pledge to make the same diplomatic move and Canada's announcement on Wednesday that it would follow suit. Sometimes, the register is studied insouciance, a shrug of the shoulders; sometimes it's anger. But the message is consistent: we won't budge. As the Israeli ambassador to Canada put it: 'Israel will not bow to the distorted campaign of international pressure against it.' Yet for all the Shakespearean references, the 'diplomatic tsunami' which Benjamin Netanyahu's critics warned of for many years, and which now seems to have arrived, is not nothing. What's more, and underneath the Millwall bluster, there are signs that Netanyahu knows it. More than 140 of the 193 member states of the UN had already recognised Palestine, but that club will soon include major western powers: the shift by France, the UK and Canada means no fewer than three members of the G7 are now on board. This same week saw a special conference convened at the UN in New York, where 125 countries urged Netanyahu to commit to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as they sought to resurrect the long-moribund two-state solution. All this diplomatic activity has prompted a series of objections from Israel and its defenders. First comes the claim that Israel's critics are appeasers. Witness Netanyahu's tweeted riposte to Starmer, which included the line: 'Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails.' Netanyahu often likes to invoke Winston Churchill and here he is again, casting himself as the Greatest Briton with Starmer as Neville Chamberlain, while his foreign minister is full of talk of Munich and 1938. As if there is any analogy between Nazi Germany grabbing a chunk of Czechoslovakia and Palestinians seeking self-determination in their historical homeland. It's a line of argument insulting in its ignorance. 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Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Hostage families: Releases will play ‘no part' in UK plan to recognise Palestine
Sir Keir Starmer announced earlier this week that the UK would take the step of recognising Palestine in September ahead of the UN General Assembly unless Israel meets certain conditions. Members of four British families met with Foreign Office officials on Thursday night seeking clarification on whether conditions would also be placed on Hamas, their lawyers said in a statement. 'However, it was clear from the meeting last night that the British Government's policy will not help the hostages, and could even hurt them,' they said. 'We do not say this lightly, but it was made obvious to us at the meeting that although the conditions for recognising a Palestinian state would be assessed 'in the round' in late-September, in deciding whether to go ahead with recognition, the release or otherwise of the hostages would play no part in those considerations. 'In other words, the 'vision for peace' which the UK is pursuing… may well involve our clients' family members continuing to rot in Hamas dungeons.' Sir Keir had said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. While he also called for Hamas to immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', he did not explicitly say these would factor into whether recognition would go ahead. The families have a range of views on what the future political settlement should look like but their priority is to keep the hostages 'above political games,' their lawyers said. They are now urging the Prime Minister to 'change course before it is too late'. 'At a minimum, the British hostage families request that the Government confirm that without the hostages being released, there can be no peace, and that this will be an important part of its decision as to whether to proceed with recognition and its current plan.' Sir Keir said that he 'particularly' listens to hostages after criticism of his plans from Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was held captive by Hamas. The families of Ms Damari and freed hostage Eli Sharabi were among those who met with the Foreign Office. Also present were relatives of Nadav Popplewell, who died while held captive, as well as those of Oded Lifshitz, who died, and Yocheved Lifschitz, who was released. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the UK will not get into a 'to and fro' with Hamas over the recognition plans and that 'we don't negotiate with terrorists, Hamas are terrorists'. US President Donald Trump disagrees with Sir Keir's plans, as well as those of France and Canada, which have also pledged their countries will recognise Palestine. 'He feels as though that's rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Hostage families: Releases will play ‘no part' in UK plan to recognise Palestine
British families of hostages taken by Hamas say they have been told that the release of those still held would 'play no part' in the UK's plans to recognise Palestine and urged the Prime Minister to change course. Sir Keir Starmer announced earlier this week that the UK would take the step of recognising Palestine in September ahead of the UN General Assembly unless Israel meets certain conditions. Members of four British families met with Foreign Office officials on Thursday night seeking clarification on whether conditions would also be placed on Hamas, their lawyers said in a statement. 'However, it was clear from the meeting last night that the British Government's policy will not help the hostages, and could even hurt them,' they said. 'We do not say this lightly, but it was made obvious to us at the meeting that although the conditions for recognising a Palestinian state would be assessed 'in the round' in late-September, in deciding whether to go ahead with recognition, the release or otherwise of the hostages would play no part in those considerations. 'In other words, the 'vision for peace' which the UK is pursuing… may well involve our clients' family members continuing to rot in Hamas dungeons.' Sir Keir had said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. While he also called for Hamas to immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', he did not explicitly say these would factor into whether recognition would go ahead. The families have a range of views on what the future political settlement should look like but their priority is to keep the hostages 'above political games,' their lawyers said. They are now urging the Prime Minister to 'change course before it is too late'. 'At a minimum, the British hostage families request that the Government confirm that without the hostages being released, there can be no peace, and that this will be an important part of its decision as to whether to proceed with recognition and its current plan.' Sir Keir said that he 'particularly' listens to hostages after criticism of his plans from Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who was held captive by Hamas. The families of Ms Damari and freed hostage Eli Sharabi were among those who met with the Foreign Office. Also present were relatives of Nadav Popplewell, who died while held captive, as well as those of Oded Lifshitz, who died, and Yocheved Lifschitz, who was released. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the UK will not get into a 'to and fro' with Hamas over the recognition plans and that 'we don't negotiate with terrorists, Hamas are terrorists'. US President Donald Trump disagrees with Sir Keir's plans, as well as those of France and Canada, which have also pledged their countries will recognise Palestine. 'He feels as though that's rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
