SUPPORTERS of a march to save Honda’s Swindon plant from closure will be bussed into Swindon by Unite from all over England so that they can join in.

The union has arranged for pickups by coach from Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Bristol, Gloucester, Plymouth, Oxford and Southampton.

Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard is looking forward to the big day.

He said: “It’s a very positive thing to highlight the issue, give it some attention and hopefully get the residents of Swindon behind the overall objective, which is to get Honda to recognise the need for them to stay here. I hope there will be a big turnout, that it’s peaceful and we show Honda that the factory and the employment this brings to the area is something that should be savoured and retained, not lost.

“I’m very supportive of what the unions are trying to do, which is focusing on Honda and the contributions the company and the people who work for it make to Swindon. I’m not one for marching, but I’m aiming to be at the park with them afterwards.

“Hopefully there are no distractions and nobody tries to to hijack the event with their own agenda.”

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A task force formed to help Honda workers and consult with the Japanese car manufacturer about its intention to close the Stratton plant by 2021 will hold a meeting later this month.

Coun Renard added: “The company has not yet shared in great detail their rationale for the proposed closure and we are working closely with the government and unions to make our case. But we can’t make that case until we know the full reasons behind the decision.”

Unite boss Len McCluskey will speak to marchers at the County Ground coach car park at 11am on March 30 before they set off through Swindon’s streets and arrive at GWR Park at 12.30pm for an afternoon of speeches, family fun and live music.

Mr McCluskey said: “There is no getting away from the threats to the sector at the moment and that we are in the grip of a manufacturing emergency. Honda’s threatened desertion is devastating, but we are very clear that this is not the end of the story. While there is one hope to save these jobs and this plant, we will keep it alive.”

Visit unitetheunion.org/news-events/events/stand-together-for-honda-swindon