Politicians put aside their ideological differences, albeit briefly, to allow the £200,000 Honda fund to be added to the borough council's budget.

Conservative cabinet member for finance Coun Russell Holland said: "It's early days, but we want to be able to have the fund available for when it's needed, where it's needed most.

"the story we need to tell loudly is that Swindon is the best place for Honda,and anyone else to do business. We have the transport links, the housing and the facilities.

"But our best asset is the people of Swindon, enthusiastic, skilled and passionate."

Labour group leader Coun Jim Grant agreed: "At last night’s Council meeting all parties agreed a range of measures to both persuade Honda to keep open their Swindon plant or to find a comparable manufacturer to operate out of this facility. Should these steps fail, we have also agreed to work with the government to offer financial assistance to Honda’s workers both and offer training to help them to secure new jobs.

All these measures will require additional resources so it is absolutely right that money was found in the Council’s budget to pay for them.

It is good that on an issue of this importance the political parties can work with the government, to do what is in the best interests of Honda’s workers.”