Mayoral candidate Kim McGuinness has called on the Government to stand by its 2020 jobs promise and safeguard the North East car manufacturing industry.

Kim made the jobs call after the Prime Minister signalled his attention to abandon a promise to back electric vehicles.

“Rishi Sunak is preparing to water down plans to ensure the UK reaches Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050 including postponing the petrol and diesel car ban from 2030.

“Just three years ago the then Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said meeting the 2050 target by phasing out diesel and petrol would “create 40,000 extra jobs by 2030, particularly in our manufacturing heartlands of the North East and across the Midlands.”

Labour’s mayoral candidate Kim McGuinness said the Government is playing politics with North East jobs.

She said: “The North East is the home of the electric vehicle industry in the UK, these green jobs are a powerful part of our regional economy.

“Yet Tory ministers in London are actively preparing to damage the jobs prospects for Nissan and its supply chain and the many North East people working in the electric vehicle industry.

“This Government U-turn brings the risk of slower growth and makes it much much harder for firms to plan and invest. I’m fighting for a better North East that leads the way in the green economy. It’s time Government matched our ambition.”