The loss of 150 meat processing jobs at Tulip Ltd in Bodmin was branded as ‘a body blow  to the Cornish economy’ by Unite, the country’s largest union, today. 

The union, which while not recognised by the company has about 25 members at the site, called for the management to discuss the job losses at ‘a hideously difficult time’ for the workforce. 

Unite said that the job losses announced today were ‘particularly hard’ given that Bodmin has some of the most deprived wards in the country. 

Unite regional officer Deborah Hopkins said:  ‘These job losses are a body blow for the Cornish economy. Behind the picture postcard scenes, Cornwall has real pockets of deep deprivation.

‘There were 430 redundancies on site recently which means almost 600 families have been adversely affected within the last 18 months. 

‘More widely, Cornwall has six Conservative MPs and they should be putting pressure on prime minister Theresa May to formulate a coherent strategy for economic development in the county and to provide well-paid jobs for the next generation.’