Brown's pledge on Airbus factory

Gordon Brown joked with Airbus staff about football during his visit

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he is determined the Flintshire Airbus plant will remain the UK's biggest factory.

On a visit to Broughton, Mr Brown said £340m in recent government loans had helped secure Airbus's future.

He also appeared upbeat about the future of the Vauxhall factory at Ellesmere Port, which employs hundreds of people from north Wales.

He said people "will be encouraged" at the decision by General Motors not to sell off its European division.

Mr Brown saw construction work on a £400m extension to the Broughton plant.

Gordon Brown said £340m government loans helped secure Airbus's future

The factory, which makes wings for the Airbus fleet, will use the new facility to help meet orders for the new A350, the fastest-selling passenger aircraft of all time.

He said employment was his top priority and spoke about how government can help businesses survive the recession.

He said: "The investment we have made in Airbus in the last few months is important for securing the future of the company.

'Encouraged'

"We are determined that this is and remains the biggest manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom."

"At the same time, where small and medium-sized firms are finding it difficult with cash flow, thousands have benefited from the schemes that we have set up."

Mr Brown said it was important to secure jobs for young people, claiming any young person who has left school in the last few months has been offered further education, training or work.

Asked about the future of the Vauxhall factory in nearby Ellesmere Port, Mr Brown said: "The Vauxhall Astra is a great car. The low carbon technology Vauxhall is developing could be the European and world leader.

"Now that GM has said it wants to maintain Vauxhall, I think people will be encouraged."

'Good team'

He also found time to talk football with Airbus workers, disclosing that he watched the second half of Liverpool FC's Champion's League match against Lyon on Wednesday, which ended 1-1.

Chatting to Liverpool fans, he said: "I saw the second half and Liverpool scored this great goal, then they threw one away.

"Lyon are a good team though, and you're missing [Steven] Gerrard."

"Then turning to a Manchester United fan, Mr Brown joked: "I expect you wouldn't have been crying last night, would you?"

Diplomatically, he added: "I want to see all British teams do well when they are playing against European opposition."