Joint statement by TUV leader Jim Allister and Mid and East Antrim Deputy Mayor Timothy Gaston:
“The last few months have been a bleak time for North Antrim on the jobs front with many families hit hard by the announcements by JTI and Michelin.
“Today’s news of an order for 195 Routemaster buses worth £62 million is therefore particularly welcome.
“Wrightbus has once again provided a chink of light in the prevailing economic gloom and has proved that North Antrim can be a world leader when it comes to manufacturing.
“While today is welcome and underscores the talent of the workforce it reminds us how scandalous the decision of our own Department of Regional Development was when it awarded the £19m contract for the new Belfast Rapid Transit system to a company from Belgium.
“It is a poor reflection on Stormont that London can recognise the quality of the Wrightbus product but our own local government deemed them not worthy of a major contract.”