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News Brief: Tom Joins Other Welsh Celebs Asking Burberry To Keep Jobs in Wales
Sunday, January 21st, 2007Why, why, why? Tom Jones sings out on Burberry closure
Richard Wachman/Sunday January 21, 2007/The Observer
Tom Jones is the latest celebrity to join the campaign against the closure of the Burberry factory in [Treorchy] South Wales and the consequent loss of 300 jobs, writes Richard Wachman
Jones and other stars, including Emma Thompson and Rhys Ifans, are fighting plans by the luxury goods and fashion group to reduce costs by shifting production to China.
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant will join the fray this week when he will speak in a debate in the House of Commons and demand that Burberry be stripped of its Royal Warrants, which allow the company to claim that it sells its products ‘by appointment to Her Majesty’.
Burberry would only say: ‘We are proud of our British heritage and we continue to design and manufacture in the UK.’
Tom Jones appeals for Burberry factory workers
and this from inthenews/Sunday, 21 Jan 2007 12:24
Singer Sir Tom Jones has appealed for the Burberry factory in his native south Wales to remain open.
The Burberry factory in Treorchy, south Wales, is due to close in March with the loss of 300 jobs. High-fashion giants Burberry claim the site is no longer viable.
Born in nearby Pontypridd, Sir Tom, 66, said he knew “how important this factory has been to the community in the Rhondda” and urged “the Burberry management to withdraw their plans to close their Treorchy factory”.
The It’s Not Unusual star has added to the debate which will be taken to the House of Commons this week. Rhondda MP Chris Bryant is expected to speak in a debate over Burberry’s Royal Warrants.
Writer Irvin Welsh, ex-Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable and Notting Hill actor Rhys Ifans have all backed the Keep Burberry British campaign.
However, not all celebrities have been as supportive of the workers’ cause. Supermodel Kate Moss has reportedly snubbed requests by the campaign to cease her contract as the face of the company. The Croydon-born superstar did not respond to a petition signed by 200 workers.
The caption on the uncredited photo says, “Sir Tom was born in South Wales.” We wonder if there’s a Brit anyhere who doesn’t know that already.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:19 am
There was a very cute movie about keeping a shoe factory open in the U.K. called Kinky Boots … it could have used some TJ in the soundtrack!
April 21st, 2007 at 2:46 pm
IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY THAT SO MANY UK FIRMS ARE MOVING OVERSEAS.EVERYONE KNOWS ITS BECAUSE THEY PAY THE WORKERS SUCH SMALL WAGES.I HAVENT HEARD, BUT HOPE THEY WILL NOT BEABLE TO USE” BY APPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN”,AGAIN.ITS DISGRACEFUL .