Sir - Reg Little's article Remembering MG (May 25) brought back many memories for me as one of the trade union officials involved with trying to save the MG plant from closure.

It is important to say that the Abingdon factory had a good record for profits, productivity and industrial relations. Unlike some of the employees at Cowley Assembly Plant (now gone), most of the MG workers had no idea how to organise a strike as there was no need for one.

When the closure was announced, much to everyone's surprise, a campaign was organised which included us meeting senior car salesmen from America.

They informed us that they could sell every MG car exported to the USA at twice the price Leyland wanted to sell them for, but the company refused to allow any increase.

They told us the American market wanted soft-top cars not hard-top, whilst British Leyland were insisting the American market wanted hard-top.

There had to be a reason why Leyland were ignoring the advice of the American car salesmen who were crying out for MG cars. I found out on a visit to Michael Edwards' office after the Abingdon plant was closed. I received a letter from him complaining about my comments regarding the closure and an invitation to meet him in his office, an invitation I gladly accepted.

When I explained my reasons for opposing the closure he replied, "what you need to remember is that you have a boss, and he's in Transport House, mine is in Number 10," meaning the prime minister (Mrs Thatcher).

Maybe that's the real explanation for the closure. It is well known that she did not like any industry owned by the British people and would rather see it privatised.

It also explains why Edwards closed 14 plants and 119,000 employees lost their jobs.

Abingdon employees, who had a good industrial relations record, were badly treated by an ungrateful government and employer. They were the victims of the worst kind of industrial vandalism. The rest, as they say, is history.

David Buckle Ex TGWU District Secretary