At least 1400 skilled jobs lost thanks to government

[vinyl]

We on this forum don't know all the in's n out's of this contract but clearly the Siemens bid for the contract must have been better than the one from Bombardier.

 

The real question must be why Bombardier didn't win the contact.

 

But from the sounds of some people on this forum, we should have just given the job to Bombardier, regardless.

 

One has to assume that this is the nub of the question. Why is a British based company not able to make trains cheaper than a German based one. The tendering process and criteria for awarding the contract was put in place by the previous government. So I assume they would have awarded the contract to Siemes anyhow. If not you ask the question "Is it ethical to expect Siemens to spend £millions preparing a tender that they cannot win?"

But I expect that who ever was in power it would be the same civil servants who awarded the contract, and it would have gone the same way. Over the last 20 years virtually every police car, ambulance, and fire engine bought for our emergency services was built outside of the UK with no regard for UK jobs.

[Mecky]

Read in the Metro this morning that the tories are blaming labour for the decision PMSL

[L00b]

Why is a British based company not able to make trains cheaper than a German based one.

It's cheaper to make things in Germany than in the UK, as manufacturing wages and, more generally, the entire cost base are lower. Simples.

 

That's generally why the Germans are moaning loudest about bailing the ClubMeds - they see the gains of their working wages being maintained artificially low (to maintain an international competitive advantage in both manufacturing and services) wasted on bailouts (for countries that aren't significantly-relevant markets) that have scant chances of ever being repaid.

 

The same situation befalls the UK now, as it did Ireland in the late 2007/early 2008 just before the crash (workforce cumulative gains eventually leads to loss of competitivity = investors and contracts go to the Continent, particularly new Eastern European EU Member States).

 

That, of itself, is just a normal economic correction, the by-product of capitals and know-how shifting to the East soon to be ex-developping nations.

 

The next time around, expect the bid to be won by a Chinese or Korean company instead.

 

Then again, I have been involved with, prepared and submitted enough tenders for UK public sector contracts to know that it is just a gigantic paper-shuffling exercise for the sake of ticking regulatory boxes (not to mention, a borderline con, what with all these semi-private service companies sprouting up to help/train suppliers to make "winning" tenders ). I just don't bother these days.

 

EDIT

Read in the Metro this morning that the tories are blaming labour for the decision PMSL

I heard yesterday that the reason why the UK could not replicate the "protectionism" of sorts witnessed in France and Germany, is because certain parameters were left out of the tender specification (something about local employment/local social fabric/etc. criteria - the "social clause"). As far as I can tell, the tender specification was prepared under a Labour administration. QED.

 

Maybe the relevant (supposedly apolitical) civil servant(s) should have done their homework? Or (in a rather uncharacteristic display of good public service management in the best interest of taxpayers) paid for specialist procurement law advisers to review the tender spec prior to release?

 

Regardless, the relevant political appointee of the day signed off on the tender spec and, from that moment onwards, the Gvt/Council/etc. were bound by EU procurement law.

[eastbank]

...better than being a working class tory!!!

 

 

better blue than red....any day of the week.....when was the last time labour gave the working class anything.....old maggie made sure loads of old folk are now living rent free....30 years on.....sitting on property worth 100k....happy days

[alchresearch]

...better than being a working class tory!!!

 

And out comes the name calling.....

 

I'm only surprised you didn't say how bigger your dad was.

[pb1977]

Better for whom?

 

I would pretty much say what mj.scuba has said.

 

So Mecky, i take it we can put you in the group that would have given the job to Bombardier, regardless.

[wednesday1]

And what is the problem being working class and Tory? Is it because you favour the party of the non-working benefit class?

 

 

No, never claimed benefits of any description in my life.

 

Though not a fan of George Galloway, I think he sums things up quite nicely here!

 

http://youtu.be/lsPlqXDrgf4

[dvp82]

I really can't see what the big issue is here, while im sure it maybe hard on anyone that may or may not lose their job but if Bombardier can't be competitive then thats a problem for Bombardier.

[Anna B]

We on this forum don't know all the in's n out's of this contract but clearly the Siemens bid for the contract must have been better than the one from Bombardier.

 

The real question must be why Bombardier didn't win the contact.

 

But from the sounds of some people on this forum, we should have just given the job to Bombardier, regardless.

 

From what I've heard we are tied into some kind of EU contract that prevents protectionism, unfortunately we seem to be the only country in Europe that adheres to it, all the rest ignore it and give work to their own workers -as we should start doing..

[mj.scuba]

No, never claimed benefits of any description in my life.

 

Though not a fan of George Galloway, I think he sums things up quite nicely here!

 

http://youtu.be/lsPlqXDrgf4

 

"the Tories love working class people like you..."

 

A rather pathetic response considering plenty of Tories are working class.

 

Obviously somebody like you who thinks nobody of working class should dare think for themselves.

 

He then goes on to dictate to the caller what he should and shouldn't be ringing his phone in radio show to talk about, doesn't say much for Galloway's hosting skills does it?