Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell has raised the devastating closure of Nestle’s Fawdon factory in Parliament.

Catherine highlighted the history of the factory, which has provided good quality manufacturing jobs for over half a century, at the site in Fawdon.

Speaking during a debate Catherine highlighted the impact of the news, stating that it was “nothing short of a devastating blow to our community – especially to the workers, their families, and the businesses around about that rely on their custom. My thoughts are with all those currently grappling with what this means for them and their families.”

“And it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the workers and their families, with a cost-of-living crisis hitting household finances, and a community still recovering from the devastation of the COVID pandemic.

Catherine paid tribute to workers at the factory and to the GMB and Unite unions for their work trying to protect jobs and secure enhanced packages for those who will be made redundant.

During her speech, Catherine raised further concerns that “Nestle’s UK CEO is a member of the UK Investment Council and a Government adviser on levelling up. Last week we heard so many bold promises from the Government about levelling up communities in the North, yet here we have one of the Government’s own advisers taking jobs and investment away from a disadvantaged part of Newcastle.”

Catherine concluded by stating that “Many are understandably questioning why Nestlé, as one of the world’s largest food companies, needs to close a profitable factory and offshore jobs away from an area of the country that needs to be levelled up, not levelling down.”