The shocking announcement that British Airways is to make up to 12,000 employees redundant – a quarter of its workforce – is devastating news for all those affected, and highlights the uncertainty facing airline staff across St Helens borough and the North West.

With 1.6 million jobs dependent on the UK’s aviation industry, it’s clear from my discussions with Unite and local trade unionists that a robust sector-wide package is needed to mitigate the intense financial pressures caused by coronavirus, with taxpayer funding conditional on companies safeguarding jobs, staff salaries, workers’ rights and environmental protections.

There’s little question that the sector, trade unions, and above all workers are crying out for leadership, urgency and clarity. So far, the Government has failed to provide either.