JEREMY Corbyn has stepped up pressure on Theresa May to intervene in the trade dispute with the US which is threatening hundreds of jobs in Belfast.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Labour leader urged her to join with Canadian premier Justin Trudeau in summoning the head of Boeing to an "urgent summit" to demand it drops its claim against Bombardier.
In a preliminary ruling the US Department of Commerce imposed a 220% tariff on Bombardier's new C-Series jets following a complaint by Boeing that its Canadian rival had received subsidies from the Canadian and British governments.
The decision is threatening to derail a major contract with Delta Airlines - jeopardising jobs at Bombardier's Belfast plant, which employs more than 4,000 people.
In his letter, Mr Corbyn accused Mrs May of "foot-dragging" over the issue, saying that while she had raised the matter directly with President Donald Trump, she had so far failed to secure a resolution to the dispute.
"You must now act with strength of purpose in the national interest," he wrote.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State James Brokenshire said yesterday the British government would continue to work with Bombardier management, the trade unions and the Canadian and US governments to find a resolution
