This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-25753398
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Minister for Portsmouth to be Michael Fallon, BBC learns | Minister for Portsmouth to be Michael Fallon, BBC learns |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The government is to appoint a Minister for Portsmouth, the BBC has learned. | The government is to appoint a Minister for Portsmouth, the BBC has learned. |
| The announcement is expected to be made later, with former Conservative Party deputy chairman Michael Fallon in line for the job. | The announcement is expected to be made later, with former Conservative Party deputy chairman Michael Fallon in line for the job. |
| It follows the decision in November to move Navy shipbuilding to Scotland with the closure of the city's BAE Systems yard causing the loss of over 900 jobs. | It follows the decision in November to move Navy shipbuilding to Scotland with the closure of the city's BAE Systems yard causing the loss of over 900 jobs. |
| Labour and trade unions had criticised the government for not doing enough to create new employment in the city. | Labour and trade unions had criticised the government for not doing enough to create new employment in the city. |
| 'Help us cope' | |
| Mr Fallon is currently both minister of business and innovation under Liberal Democrat business secretary Vince Cable. | Mr Fallon is currently both minister of business and innovation under Liberal Democrat business secretary Vince Cable. |
| He is also minister for energy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. | He is also minister for energy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. |
| The Liberal Democrat leader of Portsmouth City Council, Gerald Vernon Jackson, said: "I am glad that it seems ministers are listening and we are going to have somebody like Michael to help us cope with the loss of shipbuilding. | |
| "We have had just silence from the Ministry of Defence about this, so I am pleased that another department is willing to listen. | |
| "The loss of shipbuilding is a real blow for Portsmouth - it is the loss of 1,000 skilled jobs - so it is about trying to replace those and to find additional work for them." | |
| Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock said: "We have got to make sure he realises the size and scope of the problems and can work with local authorities and unions to try to bring about a mechanism which will go some way to encourage other businesses - either shipbuilding or maritime-related - in the space vacated by BAE in the shipyard. | |
| "We have to bear in mind that Michael Fallon has already got two other jobs. I just hope he has the time and energy to devote to the issues we are facing." | |
| The last time a similar appointment was made was in 1981, when Margaret Thatcher despatched Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine to Liverpool to lead a programme of urban regeneration following the Toxteth riots. | |
| He was dubbed the "minister for Merseyside" and was subsequently given the Freedom of Liverpool in recognition of the work he did to revive the city's fortunes. |