Union Unite is calling on the UK Government to take "immediate action" to support major infrastructure projects in the country.

The recent Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers' index revealed manufacturing is now at its lowest level in more than three years, while job losses in the sector were at their steepest level since 2012/13.

With recent Government decisions to delay the £18 billion Hinkley Point C project and a third runway at Heathrow, Unite said ministers now need to deliver on the Prime Minister's promise of an industrial strategy.

-- Advertisement --

Tony Burke, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "The government needs to take immediate action to support British manufacturing and the wider industry in the wake of the Brexit vote.

"Sitting on the sidelines and allowing thousands of decent jobs go to the wall and our manufacturing sector to be further hollowed out would be a grossly negligent act by the government.

"At a time of increasing economic uncertainty, these figures should serve as a wake-up call to the government and underline the need for ministers to start pursuing an active industrial strategy."

(LM/CD)