Train site evidence of close British and French relationship
WIDNES and a train modernisation facility in the town was cited by the Brexit Secretary in a speech made at a conference in Paris to business leaders as evidence of British and French companies working closely together.
Stephen Barclay spoke at the recent MEDEF Université d’été conference in France.
Mr Barclay spoke of the deep historic, cultural, geographic and economic ties between the two nations.
Despite the UK voting to leave the EU back in 2016, the Brexit Secretary said bilateral trade between the UK and France had risen by 12%.
And he highlighted the work being done at the Alstom facility in Halebank, where a centre for train modernisation opened in mid-2017 and ● work has taken place to repaint the fleet of Class 390 Pendolino trains used by Virgin on the West Coast Main Line.
Mr Barclay pointed to the French firm’s design of a new zero-emission, hydrogen train, which will be re-engineered in Widnes.
He said: “In total, bilateral trade was around €90bn in 2017, and the UK continues to be the number one destination for foreign investment in Europe and number three in the world.
“In fact, since 2013, UK startups have raised more from US and Asian investors than most of Europe combined, and in the first half of this year, the UK received $3.5bn from US and Asian investors, compared to $0.9bn for Germany, $0.5bn for France and $2.9bn for the rest of Europe.
“And indeed UK and French companies continue to work closely together – in fact I used to work for a French company – Axa, the very same company as did my French counterpart, your secretary of state Amelie de Montchalin also worked for, whom I met earlier today.
“The UK and France have a mutually beneficial partnership – one that has seen Alstom unveiling the design of its new zeroemission, hydrogen train, which will be re-engineered in Widnes, while Airbus which employs 14,000 people in the UK across 25 sites with more than 4,000 UK companies in its supply chain.”
He added: “Our shared economic future is best served through a deal as the UK leaves the European Union – which we are committed to doing on October 31.
“If a compromise cannot be found then we have been clear that we are leaving whatever the circumstances on October 31. People voted for Brexit and it is important to our democracy that we deliver it.”