REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean is one of 16 MPs who has sent a letter to Business Secretary Greg Clark asking for the proposed takeover of Redditch-based engineering giant GKN to be blocked.

The letter, led by Labour MP Jack Dromey and Mrs Maclean, is the latest sign of worry over the deal.

The Advertiser reported earlier this week politicians and unions have raised concerns about turnaround specialist Melrose applying its transformation model to GKN, which has its headquarters in Ipsley, arguing that it has a history of cutting jobs and reducing research and development spending.

Many critics fear that will spell the end of GKN in the UK.

Melrose's supporters, though, include many large institutional shareholders, while ministers have shown little appetite to block a takeover by one British company of another.

Mrs Maclean said: "I'm deeply concerned about Melrose's takeover attempt of GKN, especially when it could affect hundreds of jobs here in Redditch and the staff's pensions.

"This is why I joined Jack in writing a cross-party letter, signed by 16 MPs in total, calling on the Business Secretary Greg Clark, to block the takeover bid."

The letter from the cross-party group of MPs said: "GKN is one of the most prominent engineering firms in the UK, the third biggest in our country.

"It is a world class success story, the pride of British industry which supplies components to companies such as Jaguar Land Rover.

"We are writing to you because we all have a GKN plant and/or supply chain-affected firm in our constituencies.

"Due to this, we have shared our concerns about the proposed hostile takeover bid by Melrose and want to express to you why we believe the takeover should not succeed."

Last week, it emerged that GKN was in talks to sell its automotive unit Driveline to Dana Corporation, an American rival.