MAJOR job losses in Ilkley have prompted the town's former Tory MP to attack his successor over the Labour Government's economic policy.

Gary Waller, who was ousted in the Labour General Election landslide last year, told the Gazette: "The tragic news that Spooner Industries is to lose a further one-third of its workforce is a regrettable reflection of the current outlook for manufacturing industy as a whole."

Mr Waller added: "Ann Cryer may well point out that the Labour Government has handed over responsibility for setting interest rates to the Bank of England; what it cannot do is shuffle of responsibility for the disastrous effects of Gordon Brown's policies."

After the job losses were announced, Mrs Cryer told the Gazette that she did not support the Government's policy in handing over interest rate responsibility to the Bank of England and indicated she was willing to help manufacturing bosses to plead their case with Ministers.

This week she held a meeting with Spooner Industries managing director Derek Broadley to discuss the way forward.

Mrs Cryer has always believed that the ability of manufacturing industrial base to deliver the goods is vital for bringing about social improvements.

In a recent article for a Bradford business magazine, Mrs Cryer said: "I actually believe that the success of British manufacturing industry is essential if we as a government are to achieve the great many things that so many people inside and outside the Labour Party desire."

In the article she also suggested that the Government should be willing to subsidise manufacturing research and development to keep British firms competitive.

Mrs Cryer said: "Should industry need a little extra help, particularly so far as research, development and accessing overseas markets are concerned, then this will be a price worth paying if it helps us achieve our social objectives."

But it is her Government's policy of maintaining low inflation with a high value pound which is leading to a recession in manufacturing, said Mr Waller.

"The Government's failure to restrain consumer demand has left the Bank of England no choice but to raise interest rates. Labour say they want to move away from boom and bust. In fact, they have achieved both simultaneously; an overheating service sector and a recession-hit manufacturing industry," Mr Waller said.

He added: "I take no pleasure in the fact that my forecasts at the last election are coming true even more quickly than anyone expected."

Recent job losses both in Ilkley and at Keighley enamelling firm Trico have been blamed on the Government's economic policy by Ilkley parish and district councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

"Manufacturing needs some support from all local Labour MPs," said Coun Hawkesworth.

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