A working group needs to be set up immediately to protect jobs at a Shropshire Ministry of Defence base, it was claimed today.

Councillor Keith Austin, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Labour group, said he was desperate to ensure the future of MoD Donnington, near Telford.

A motion was passed by the council in November to campaign to retain MoD jobs and to set up a MoD Donnington Support Group, as requested by union representatives at the base.

But Councillor Austin said nothing had been done, almost four weeks since the proposal was passed on November 25.

He said: “I have no doubt whatsoever that if we support any move to privatise any part of the base, the future of MoD Donnington will be under threat, as it will be a process in which private sector partners will be making decisions on where work will be done.

“They certainly won’t be thinking about the impact on local communities.

“The anger and frustration of those MoD workers who attended last month’s meeting was clearly evident and we must give them all the support that we can to ensure that their jobs are kept in the public sector. Time is running out.”

And Councillor Austin’s views were echoed by Brett Davies, a Unite Union convenor based at Mod Donnington.

He added: “The workforce at the base are very worried about their future and any help that the council can give to secure their jobs and keep them in the public sector, would be very welcome.”

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade said he would welcome a meeting on the situation, adding he was hopeful of preserving jobs.

He said: “My first priority has been to produce a council budget for the whole borough that deals with the economic mess left behind by the last Labour Government.”

“Clearly all defence jobs in both the private and public sectors at the depot are important to the borough.”

By Alex James