Wedgwood going into administration is a personal disaster for the 1500 people working at Baralston who have lost their jobs, but it is also a black day of sadness for the whole of North Staffordshire.
Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire is known across the world because of the pottery industry that Josiah Wedgwood and Josiah Spode developed 205 years ago. They made this area great. They are central to our identity. The three city MPs will be doing all we can to limit the damage and to get as many of those 1500 people back in work as possible. We are seeking a meeting with the trade and industry secretary, Peter Mandelson, and, with trade unions, we are talking to the DWP and the jobs centre about a package of initiatives.
Wedgwood remains a great name throughout the world and it is possible that the administrator will be able to salvage something there is still a market for the highest quality ware. We will be doing all we can.