When Don Touhig, MP for Islwyn in south-east Wales, heard that General Dynamics, the US defence company, was thinking of coming to the valleys, he did not hesitate. A few phone calls later and Mr Touhig was showing the company around a new facility that had been built on the site of an old colliery.

“I said forget about Newport, come to Oakdale,” recalls Mr Touhig. “They kept their word.”