Unions say the intervention is vital

In a private meeting at the Labour conference last week, Gordon Brown told union leaders he would contact Sir Nick Scheele during his visit to Washington.

It is thought they were to meet at the International Monetary Fund conference.

Ford is to switch production from Browns Lane to Castle Bromwich with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs.

Voluntary redundancies

Sir Nick managed the Coventry plant between 1992 and 1999.

Government ministers, including the Prime Minister, have raised concerns about the way workers were consulted about the planned job cuts.

Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union are calling for an independent analyst to gain access to Jaguar's books to see if the fall-off in its car sales justifies the cutbacks.

A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union said on Sunday that they had been assured that Mr Brown would make contact with Ford duirng his trip to the US.

Ford 's plans will see car production stop at Browns Lane, with 400 voluntary redundancies and 425 jobs moved to the Castle Bromwich factory.

Jaguar will also lose 750 mostly white-collar staff as back office work is merged with Land Rover.

The plan will leave 310 jobs at Browns Lane, with workers making wood finishes for Jaguar models.