Derek Simpson urged Labour to focus on domestic issues

Some 2,500 workers - representing the number of jobs allegedly lost in UK manufacturing every week - are expected to take part as unions step up pressure on the government over rising job cuts.

Union leaders are urging Prime Minister Tony Blair to put jobs at the top of the political agenda - and not be sidetracked by other issues such as Iraq and the Labour leadership.

Workers from some of Britain's biggest companies, including Shell, Rolls Royce, MG Rover, BAE Systems and Alstom, were expected to join the protest.

Good times

It came as Chancellor Gordon Brown outlined "the next stage" of Labour's economic reforms.

It is scandalous that a manufacturing base that has been there for 150 years is going to be allowed to suddenly just disappear Bob Charles, Alstom protester

In a keynote conference speech, Mr Brown restated his commitment to creating full employment, and pledged more help for manufacturers.

Now that the sector is operating within more favourable exchange rates and "with world trade growing again," the UK should aim to "build a modern manufacturing strength", he told delegates.

He also pledged greater "rights of workers to information and consultation" over redundancies.

But he also said there could be an end to national pay bargaining in favour of regional deals, a move opposed by most unions.

'Basic beliefs'

Mr Brown added that he would not abandon his "prudent and responsible" economic policies for "quick fixes".

And he stressed economic reform is the only route to full employment.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt also stressed the importance of manufacturing, as part of a return to Labour's "most basic beliefs and values".

Mrs Hewitt, who acccording to bookmakers William Hill is 8/1 second favourite to be the next Labour leader, said: "Our belief in manufacturing is why I fought and I will carry on fighting for our steelworkers and our steel industry against the unjust and illegal tariffs imposed by the US."

In her conference speech, Ms Hewitt also warned against "talking down" British manufacturing at a time when some of the most exciting economic developments were taking place in industry.

The Labour leadership is facing a difficult week

Under new EU laws, she said, ministers will "stop the scandal of workers hearing they've been sacked on the radio or by text message".

She also pledged to work more closely with the unions.

Conservative shadow chancellor Michael Howard attacked Labour's "record of failure" on manufacturing.

He said productivity had grown "half as quickly under this government and manufacturing output and investment had fallen.

Domestic agenda

Earlier, Derek Simpson, general secretary of Amicus-AEEU, which organised the demonstration, warned Labour delegates that rows over Iraq and the party's leadership were in danger of diverting attention from the issue of jobs.

"We have got domestic problems that need attention and while I am as passionate as the next (person) about Iraq, we need a third Labour government.

"If we want all the good things that this Labour government has done to continue in a third term, we need to address the crisis in manufacturing," he told the Labour conference.

Job losses

Britain's manufacturing economy has alternated between stagnation and outright recession for most of the last three years.

Up to 86,000 jobs are feared to have been lost in the sector in the first six months of 2003, according to the CBI.

The Midlands, in particular, has taken a battering with thousands of jobs being axed at some of its most prestigious factories.

Land Rover, Corus, Alstom and Goodyear Dunlop have all announced redundancies in the past months, with most blamed on foreign competition.

Around 200 engineers from embattled train maker Alstom's Birmingham plant, which is facing closure with the loss 1,000 jobs, were among those demonstrating at Bournemouth.

One of the group was dressed as an undertaker, with the others pushing aglass "coffin" with a model train inside to symbolise the imminent death of train building at their plant.

The workers sang the funeral march and then chanted: "Comedy Blair, he don't care, build those trains anywhere."

One employee, Bob Charles, told BBC radio: "It is scandalous that a manufacturing base that has been there for 150 years is going to be allowed to suddenly just disappear."