Keir Starmer has been asked to intervene in the 'crisis' hitting the ceramics industry, following the collapse of Royal Stafford.

More than 80 pottery workers lost their jobs this week after the Burslem-based firm went into administration.

Royal Stafford, which dates back to 1845, had been hit by rising gas prices and falling orders. Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

He asked Sir Keir to help ceramics manufacturers get a better deal on energy prices, and also urged him to promote British-made pottery over 'fake' foreign imports.

Stoke-on-Trent MP Gareth Snell raised the issue at PMQ's this week (parliamentlive.tv).

Mr Snell said: "Eighty-three proud pottery workers woke up on Monday morning with no job, following the collapse of the 200-year-old Royal Stafford pottery firm. It is a crisis in our ceramics industry – escalating prices for energy and fake foreign imports are causing a real problem.

"So could I ask the Prime Minister if he, through his offices, can arrange for the energy companies to meet with Ceramics UK and the GMB, as the voice of the workforce, so we can hammer out a new deal. And can he promote, through public procurement, buying British, so the manufacturing jobs in Stoke will be protected."

Sir Keir thanked Mr Snell for raising a 'really important issue', and said that the requested meetings would be arranged. He said: "It's obviously a question of jobs, but it's also a question of identity and a sense of place, and of course we'll work with the energy companies and of course we'll have the relevant meetings as he suggests."

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