MPs Welsh on tradition to back Cosford project

The West Midlands must win its bid for a key military training facility following the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs, ministers have been told.

MPs stepped up their campaign to ensure two key training facilities come to RAF Cosford, in a House of Commons debate.

But there was some friction when they refused to let a fellow MP take part - because he was Welsh.

About £45.4 million could be added to the regional economy annually if the site, between Telford and Wolverhampton, is chosen to host the new Centre of Excellence for the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering and the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems.

It would create 2,500 jobs and secure 4,000 jobs already directly and indirectly employed at the base.

However, it is competing against St Athan, in South Wales.

The debate was led by Mark Pritchard (Con The Wrekin) and attended by MPs from all parties from across the region.

It was also attended by Welsh MP Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda, who is supporting St Athan's bid.

He attempted to take part by intervening while Mr Pritchard was speaking.

By convention, an MP making a speech in the Commons will "give way" to allow a colleague to interrupt them and say a few words of their own.

But Mr Pritchard refused on two occasions, explaining that the debate was for West Midland MPs and Welsh MPs had their own session in the Commons set aside for Welsh issues.

Mr Pritchard said: "We want to see a commitment from this Government to jobs in Shropshire and the West Midlands."

Daniel Kawczynski (Lab Shrewsbury) warned: "We are going through a more difficult time in regards to employment than for many years."

In a show of cross-party unity, Lib Dem MP Lorely Burt (Solihull) also spoke in favour of Cosford's bid, as did Richard Burden (Lab North-field), David Wright (Lab Tel-ford) and Christopher Gill (Con Ludlow).

Defence Minister Tom Watson (Lab West Bromwich East), replying for the Government, said he could not comment on the merits of potential sites while the decision was still being made.