"Electric car plan for Vauxhall factory"

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown is expected to visit Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant tomorrow for talks that could safeguard the future of thousands of jobs.

The Prime Minister, who will be in the region to attend the TUC conference in Liverpool, is set to meet senior management to discuss proposals for the car maker’s new electric Ampera model to be produced at the factory.

The talks will also feature Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, amid Government hopes that the plant, which has around 2,200 staff, becomes one of the leading electric car makers in Europe.

GM hopes to build 220,000 plug-in hybrids in the UK every year to 2015 and has reportedly already met with Mr Brown to secure tax breaks to produce the new model.

The car maker is also thought to want the Prime Minister to order public charging points for electric cars to be installed on thousands of British streets.

GM’s European arm was last week sold to a consortium led by Canadian company Magna.

Production has already started at Ellesmere Port on the new Vauxhall Astra, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.