Farron calls on new owners of Northern Rock to protect jobs at Kendal branch

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on Virgin Money, the new owners of Northern Rock plc, to give assurances to the staff at the bank's branch on Stricklandgate in Kendal.

Tim wrote in June to the Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury asking for them to provide assurances to Northern Rock's staff, agree to secure local jobs and protect Northern Rock's presence inSouth Cumbria.

Tim also wanted the bank to be sold to a single buyer and is now calling on Virgin Money to live up to those assurances.

Tim commented: "In June I wrote to the government asking them for assurances over the sale of Northern Rock. I now want Virgin Money the new owners to honour those assurances and work with me to protect local jobs. Kendal's high street and the cultural life of Cumbria gain's massively from Northern Rock and it's cultural foundation - I also want to hear that Virgin Money will help this to continue."