Members will stage stunt at House of Commons
GMB union members will symbolically cut a Burberry tie outside the House of Commons tomorrow, representing the retailer's severing of links with the UK.

Workers will travel from the threatened Burberry factory in Treorchy to lobby MPs. GMB organiser Mervyn Burnett said: 'The photocall will visually illustrate Burberry's plans. When we meet MPs we will update them on the campaign, which will continue into the new year.'

Opera singer Bryn Terfel has become the latest celebrity to voice his concerns over the factory's closure, joining Prince Charles and Hollywood actors Ioan Gruffud and Rhys Ifans. Welsh secretary Peter Hain also supports the campaign.

Hain met with Burberry heads last week to urge a U-turn on the factory's closure.

Hain told Burberry management that he was astonished that a company that had built its reputation as an iconic UK brand could justify moving production overseas. He said: 'It would be like Gucci pulling out of Italy.'

The GMB union has proposed setting up a sample prototype company in the factory, with Burberry to act as project manager.

A Burberry spokesman said: 'We are in discussion with the Welsh Clothing and Textile Association, investigating how we might help them develop a new business idea at the Treorchy site.'

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