Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, today visited Plymouth to meet business leaders at the Barden Corporation in Estover.

Just five years ago the future of the business looked bleak as its owners planned to close it. With the help from local MPs and Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of the Council five years ago and again now, the business was saved and is now flourishing.

Barden makes precision ball-bearings for high-end uses in aerospace, defence and space. This year they celebrated their 75th anniversary.

Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor said:

““It was fantastic to visit Barden Corporation today and see not only a brilliant and highly skilled local workforce, but also the growth being driven by the advanced manufacturing on site.

“With interest rates up today, it’s clear that delivering the change Britain’s economy needs will not come easy.

““But businesses like this show how much potential there is in Britain, with the skills, businesses and ideas to rebuild.

“Labour will work hand-in-hand with British businesses so we have an economy that is strong and growing to make working people are better off.”

Luke Pollard, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP, said:

“Plymouth is world-class across many industries including advanced manufacturing, so it was great Rachel saw one of our success stories up-close this week.

““Let’s start telling our story loudly and proudly so we can get more investment to get our city’s economy growing again.”

Fred Thomas, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate in Plymouth Moor View, said:

“I invited Rachel to Plymouth so she could see the world-class skills we have in the city.

““To get our economy motoring again after 13 lost years of low growth, I want a government that will back businesses like this, help them expand and create more jobs in Plymouth.”