Parliamentary candidate for Welwyn Hatfield, Andrew Lewin, has written to the senior management at Ocado urging them to support staff who are at risk of losing their jobs.

This comes after Ocado announced it would close its Hatfield site - which accounts for about a fifth of its 400,000 customer orders each week - later this year, putting 2,300 jobs at risk. 

Mr Lewin published an open letter to Ocado on Thursday, June 1, stating: "I will do all I can to stand up for local workers in Hatfield at such a difficult time. 

"I have been listening to staff affected, working with their representatives, and have met with senior Ocado management."

Plans will see Ocado moved to a new state-of-the-art robotic warehouse in Luton, with consultations taking place with the Hatfield workers aimed at offering jobs to as many as possible at nearby sites. 

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Mr Lewin aims to push four key points: 

  •  Jobs at the new Luton site should be offered to Hatfield staff first 
  • Anyone facing redundancy should have a fair payout and help to find a new job 
  • There must be financial help for staff facing higher commuting costs to Luton 
  • The Hatfield site must stay open as long as possible

Andrew added: "After 13 years of Conservative government and significant inflationary pressures, I acknowledge the challenging economic conditions you face.

"That said, I want to put on record my disappointment at Ocado’s decision, particularly in the context of the contribution to the business of the Hatfield workforce.

"As the local Labour Parliamentary candidate, I want the maximum number of jobs to be protected and for every staff member to be supported and treated with the respect they deserve."

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The Parliamentary candidate for Welwyn Hatfield added: "This is one of the biggest employment issues to hit Welwyn Hatfield in years. We need to do better to protect and support hard-working and loyal employees and that is what is a future Labour government will do. 

"As the local Labour Parliamentary candidate, I want the maximum number of jobs to be protected and for every staff member to be supported and treated with the respect they deserve." 

He also added that Grant Shapps was "missing in action" and has had "little to say about what's going on in his constituency". 

Grant Shapps said: “I have been in contact with Ocado since day one. Back in April, I met with the company and constituents to ensure impacted employees have the support they need to stay at Ocado or find new work locally.

"Unlike the Labour candidate, I have not sought to play politics and have instead focused my time into helping individual constituents affected by the job losses at Ocado.

"Given the Labour candidate claims in his leaflets that he would run a positive campaign, it's disappointing to see him playing politics with people's livelihoods.

"While the Labour candidate counts supporters of Just Stop Oil in his coterie, with their anarchist stunts disrupting working lives, I'm getting on with the job of helping my constituents by ensuring that the UK and Welwyn Hatfield maintain our energy independence and security.”

Ocado has been approached for comment.