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Vauxhall will close its 120-year-old Luton factory in April, parent company Stellantis announced today.

This decision puts 1,100 jobs at risk.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said it was “a very difficult day for Luton” – and now one of those facing redundancy has called on the Government to intervene.

Gary Reay, who has worked at the factory for 33 years, said he was “angry” at the decision to close it.

Although he was aware of a “strategic review” underway at the company, employees “never thought for one minute that Luton would be a casualty”.

It is a “profitable factory” with a “good workforce,” he says, and now there needs to be a “political solution.”

“We need the government to step in.”

“I understand the seriousness”

Pressure has been put on UK carmakers to meet the government’s electric car mandate, with negotiations over the 2030 deadline taking place between the government and industry.

Financial penalties are currently imposed on manufacturers if zero-emission vehicles represent less than 22% of all sales. This will reach 80% of all sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.

Mr Reynolds earlier told MPs on the Business Select Committee he did not think the policy had worked as intended.

Suggesting a rethink, he said: “I understand the seriousness and urgency of the situation.”