Luton North MP calls on Prime Minister to support aviation industry through Covid-19 pandemic

In her first question to Boris Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions since being elected last December, Ms Owen spoke of her fear that the government is leaving the Luton economy to "sink or swim".

At Prime Minister’s Questions today, Ms Owen said: “Three weeks ago, the Prime Minister stood at that dispatch box, praising Luton for being the only place to come out of local restrictions. But praise doesn’t pay the bills.

"Luton’s proud manufacturing, aviation and events industries need more than soundbites and figures which bear no relation to what’s really happening to jobs and businesses. He knows entire industries are at stake - so his inaction is either indifference or incompetence.

“Will he get support to the places and industries that need it most, or will he leave Luton to sink or swim like he has Manchester?”

In response, Boris Johnson said: "I thank the people of Luton for their hard, and their heroic work, as I thank people across the country for what they are doing.

"And I want to support businesses in Luton and that’s why we want to continue with the sensible, balanced, regional, local approach that we are.

"I hope she agrees with me that it wouldn't make sense at all for hard pressed businesses in Luton if they had their lights turned off and their doors shuttered in a series of multiple lockdowns in the kind that are recommended by the party opposite.”

Covid-19 has meant that passenger numbers are about 66% lower at Luton Airport than they were at the same point in 2019.

UK arts events such as exhibitions are not permitted to take place until March 2021 at the earliest and Luton events companies such as Creative8 have previously stated that the future "looks bleak" for the sector, which employs 600,000 people across the UK.

As of Tuesday, October 20, the total number of coronavirus cases in the borough stands at 2,711, representing a rise of 48 compared to the previous day.

Speaking after Prime Minister's Questions, Ms Owen said: “People in Luton see coronavirus cases are rising and are really worried about what the next few months are going to bring. Will families be able to spend Christmas together?

"Will people still have a job and be able to pay the bills in a few months’ time? How long will this all go on for?”

“I’m concerned about the rising number of cases in our town, and when I see the Tories leaving jobs and businesses in places like Manchester to sink or swim, I’m worried about what might be coming for us if we need to change tier.

“They’re acting as if there’s a choice between saving the economy or saving people’s health. The reality is though that you can’t save one without saving the other.

“The government promised that they would do ‘whatever it takes’ to get us through the crisis. They’re now playing political games and have taken the decision to break that promise.

“I know people in Luton are worried about the next few weeks and months. I know it will be tough to get the Tories to finally listen, but I’ll carry on fighting until we get the support we need to get us through this tough winter.”