Astra demo as union takes car jobs fight to Parliament.

Byline: NEIL HODGSON

ELLESMERE PORT car workers took their fight to save the Cheshire factory to Westminster today.

They drove one of the factory's Astra models in a "drive-by" past Parliament ahead of a meeting between Unite the Union leaders and MPs.

The nine-strong convoy featured Vauxhall models from the 1960s to present day to emphasise the strength of British car manufacturing.

Unite is calling on Parliament to safeguard the 5,000 Vauxhall jobs at Ellesmere Port and its sister site in Luton ahead of a sale by US-based parent General Motors of its European brands Opel and Vauxhall.

Canadian car parts group Magna has been given preferred bidder status, but rival bids from Belgian car parts outfit RHJ International and China's Beijing Automotive Industry Corps are expected.

RHJ is believed to have pledged to keep the two UK plants open.

Ellesmere Port union convener John Fetherstone described RHJ as "welcome bidders".

However, today's union protest was also to draw attention to the 20,000 supply chain jobs that could be hit if Vauxhall were to be shut.

Unite the Union assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said ahead of today's drive-by protest around Parliament Square: These workers are coming to Parliament today because they want MPs to show support for their fight, not just for their future, but for the entire UK car industry.

Vauxhall is at the heart of our car manufacturing in this country.

"An industry, entire workplaces and whole communities need it to thrive."

Mr McCluskey added: "It is vital that any deal done over the future of GM in Europe is the right deal for a secure and lasting industry in this country, which is why we are pressing for our government to carry on doing what it says it is doing and keep working towards a deal which protects our plants and jobs.

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CAR CALL: The Astra plant