Labour MP Justin Madders has joined calls for BT to reconsider plans affecting its Liverpool operation, warning that more than 600 jobs could be at risk and saying constituents have contacted him with serious concerns about their futures.
The Ellesmere Port and Bromborough MP said:
“More than 600 jobs are at risk from BT’s plans to close its Liverpool operation.
“I’ve joined calls for BT to think again after being contacted by constituents worried about their futures.”
The proposed changes have prompted concern across Merseyside and neighbouring areas because the workforce includes employees who travel into Liverpool from constituencies across the region.
Madders backs workers facing uncertainty
Madders’ intervention puts the focus on the employees and families who could be affected if the closure proceeds.
For many workers, the issue is not simply whether alternative BT employment exists elsewhere, but whether any replacement roles would be realistically accessible without major changes to travel, working patterns or family arrangements, union officials have warned.
The MP is urging BT to engage fully with affected employees and the Communication Workers Union before taking irreversible decisions.
Major employer undergoing wider change
BT has been pursuing a wider programme of restructuring and cost reduction as the telecoms industry adapts to new technology, increased automation and the transition from traditional networks to fibre and digital services.
At the same time, the company continues to recruit in areas such as cybersecurity, digital services and network engineering, illustrating the significant shift taking place across its workforce. Recent BT vacancies include specialist roles in Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and London.
BT has also been reshaping its international business and wider operating model as part of its long-term transformation programme.
Concern over impact on Liverpool economy
The potential loss of hundreds of jobs would have implications beyond BT itself.
Large employment sites support local shops, transport networks and other businesses, while well-established operations can provide skilled and relatively secure employment over many years.
That is why MPs and local representatives are likely to press the company not only on the number of jobs involved, but on the wider economic consequences for Liverpool City Region. Madders has joined regional leaders in calling for the plans to be reconsidered.
Labour MP calls for rethink
Madders’ position is that workers should not be left facing uncertainty without a serious effort to explore alternatives.
He has joined those calling for BT to reconsider the proposal and engage constructively with staff representatives over how jobs can be protected.
For Madders, the priority is ensuring that a corporate restructuring decision does not leave hundreds of workers and their families paying the price — and that every possible alternative to closure is properly examined first.
