SOUTHAMPTON MP John Denham is demanding Ford reveals more details of its plans for jobs in the city after the company revealed a £24m boost to its factory in Wales.

The multinational vehicle maker confirmed is investing £24m in its Bridgend plant – £12m of which has been pledged towards the project by the Welsh Government.

The investment will see the production of the firm’s new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in the new year and would safeguard posts at Ford Bridgend, which employs 2,000 people.

Commitment It could also create new jobs in the future, potentially rising to 2,300 this year.

But Mr Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, said detailed announcements about the future of Southampton’s plant are needed.

He said: “We knew they were going to be interested in Bridgend. The key point is we haven’t yet had the commitment from Ford and are asking whether they have had to keep as many jobs here as possible.

“There is talk here about business centres and distribution centres but we have not had the detailed announcements that are needed.

“I am not going to say they shouldn’t be spending money in Bridgend. The country needs those jobs to be secure and we want similar levels of investment in Southampton.”

A spokesman for Unite said: “When Ford announced they were closing Southampton, we condemned them and demanded they try to find alternatives to protect as many jobs as possible.

“Southampton builds vans and diesel vans whereas Bridgend builds petrol engines. The two are different things.

“Obviously as a union we have been demanding the company does whatever it can to look at other alternatives to protect jobs down there in Southampton.”