Prime Minister David Cameron urged to save 300 DVA jobs in Coleraine

NORTHERN Ireland’s politicians have united to try and save 300 at risk jobs in Coleraine’s Driver and Vehicle Agency.

They took their campaign today to No 10 Downing Street and were joined by NIPSA union reps and business people to argue their case.

The cross-party group handed in a petition with over 40,000 signatures to the Conservative government to overturn a plan to centralise services at the DVA in Swansea so drivers can use online or phone services to tax their cars.

However, campaigners are opposed to the move who believe the job losses would have a devastating impact on an area of Northern Ireland that is already struggling with high unemployment.

Prime Minister David Cameron said a private sector “revival” was the answer to transforming Northern Ireland’s economy.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s questions, he said the public sector was still very large in Northern Ireland.

He said that since the last General Election in 2010, employment had risen by 32,000 in Northern Ireland.

Mr Cameron was responding to a question by SDLP MP Mark Durkan.

He asked him about current proposals that threaten hundreds of jobs at the DVA and at HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland.