Church adds voice to JLR campaign; Better to invest now than deal with deeper problems later, says Archdeacon.

Byline: BY DAVID BARTLETT Daily Post Chief Reporter

ANGLICAN Archdeacon of Liverpool, the Venerable Ricky Panter, has said "we all have a moral duty to act" in saving the jobs of Jaguar Land Rover workers and their suppliers.

In a personal letter, the Archdeacon supports the Daily Post's campaign for the Government to give a loan or loan guarantee to help JLR ride the recession.

He insists it is everyone's duty to try and lessen the impact and the human cost on communities affected by the current downturn.

The support from Archdeacon Panter comes after this week's announcement by JLR boss David Smith of 300 management job cuts across the group and the loss of 150 salaried agency staff, driven by the need to make the business economically viable in time for any upturn in its markets when consumer confidence returns.

JLR employs 2,200 in Merseyside at its Halewood base, plus 13,000 in the Midlands.

Our "Support JLR" campaign is being run together with sister paper the Liverpool Echo and stablemates the Birmingham Post and Mail and Coventry Telegraph.

In his letter, Archdeacon Panter says: "The Church of England supports any reasonable moves that can help provide a degree of certainty for those who work for Jaguar Land Rover and their suppliers.

"We welcome this campaign and are encouraged by the positive response that it has had with government figures, such as Lord Mandelson.

"As a church we are deeply concerned about the impact that the credit crisis has on important local employers such as JLR.

"We have seen the devastating effect that losing a vital part of the economy can have on families and communities. A strong society needs good employment opportunities and many people have worked very hard at Halewood to achieve this.

"We know that having secure employment has a major influence on a person's sense of self worth and helps individuals develop positive relationships with others. I know from my experience as a pastor how difficult it is for individuals to cope with the loss of employment and the effect that has on their families.

"It can have very damaging effects on people's lives.

"This means we all have a moral duty to act.

"It is surely better to invest in preventing the problem than to have to work to resolve the deeper problems that will follow if action isn't taken now."

He adds: "The workforce at the Halewood plant has shown themselves to be dedicated, loyal and hardworking.

"That has been recognised by the commitment that owners Tata have made to investing in JLR.

"That commitment deserves to be matched by the Government responding positively to this campaign."

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How to support our campaign

IN PRINT

CALL in to our Old Hall Street office and sign the petition on our front reception desk

Write to: Letters to the Editor, Liverpool Daily Post, PO Box 48, Old Hall St, Liverpool, L69 3EB;

Write to your local MP asking them to back the campaign at Westminster.

ONLINE

SIGN our petition www.tinyurl.com/no10jlr

Have your say at forums.liverpooldailypost.co.uk

Join the Facebook group Save Jaguar Land Rover

CAPTION(S):

Archdeacon Ricky Panter - we have a 'moral duty to act' Picture: JASON ROBERTS/jr130109archdeacon-3