The announcement that jobs are at risk at Vestas following a decision to repurpose their factory is extremely worrying.

It will be devastating news for employees and their families. Vestas is a big Island employer so the impact of this decision will go beyond Newport and affect the whole local economy such as Island based suppliers.

Obviously, I hope that the agreement in principle with government on repurposing the site to onshore blade manufacture does save as many jobs as possible.

The new Labour government has laid out ambitious plans for transforming the UK’s green economy. So, I will be pressing for our two MPs and the Isle of Wight Council to make the case to government to do more by investing in ways that can both retain skilled people and strengthen and diversify our own local green economy.