Mobile
phone giant Ericsson is reportedly in "advanced talks" to sell its
two UK factories in a move that would save more than 1,000 jobs.
Trade
and industry secretary Stephen Byers is believed to have been closely involved in
the effort to find buyers for the two plants, according to the Financial Times.
The
government is understood to be keen to reach an agreement before the general
election on 7 June.
Ministers
have been stung by criticism that they have not done enough to stem job losses
in manufacturing.
The
Ericsson factories have been marketed through British embassies around the
world, according to the newspaper.
It
says Ericsson is not prepared to name the potential buyer, but it is not a
mobile phone company.
