MP slams Houchen's 'irresponsible' talk on future of Ensus jobs

A LABOUR MP has hit out at the Tees Valley mayor over what she describes as “deeply irresponsible” comments that he made about the future of Ensus.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

At Mayor's Question Time, on July 23, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said it was “likely” that Redcar-based Ensus would be closing down, adding that the government had “given away” the ethanol industry.

As for a timeline, the regional mayor said he thought in the current situation, Ensus could survive “a matter of weeks”.

Responding, Redcar MP Anna Turley said that she was “shocked” by the mayor's “casual attitude to dismissing the future of a vital Teesside business”.

A government spokesperson meanwhile said that the “concerning time” for workers and their families was recognised, highlighting potential financial support.

In June, Ensus warned of the “imminent” closure of its plant as a result of the trade deal between the UK and US.

At the time, the biofuels manufacturer said that the decision to allow the USA to export 1.4bn litres of bioethanol to the UK tariff free had fundamentally undermined its business position, adding that “crisis talks” took place in May.

During the question time event, Mayor Houchen was asked about his joint letter with Reform mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, sent in June to the Prime Minister, requesting an urgent meeting regarding both the Ensus plant in Redcar and the Vivergo plant in Hull.

Mayor Houchen responded that while Ensus has “struggled for many years”, the recently announced UK-US trade deal would be “the big thing” to hamper them.