Commenting on the loss of 100 jobs at Fox's biscuits in Uttoxeter, Conservative parliamentary candidate Andrew Griffiths said,
 
"This is devastating news for the workforce in Uttoxeter, and for the town as a whole.  We have been battered with waves of job losses at Toyota, JCB,  the Fole Dairy and a host of others, and this is very unwelcome timing just before Christmas.  The workforce, East Staffs Councill and the whole community have got behind the campaign to save Fox's in Uttoxeter.  We have all been waiting with baited breath over the prospect of the super factory, and it is very concerning that the delay in that decision should now be followed by job losses.  I sincerely hope that greater redundancies at the Batley plant are an indication that Uttoxeter is the favoured option, but that really is wishful thinking.  I hope that Northern Foods will do all they can to minimise compulsory redundancy through things like voluntary redundancies, but for a community that has seen unemployment double in the last 12 months, this really is bitter news."