The Times of London published a report today about Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's visit to China. This is the interesting bit:

[T]oday’s headlines are dominated by the hope that the Chancellor may have helped to save the Rover car plant by breathing new life into a Chinese investment plan.

He is expected today to announce new hopes for a rescue by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, although he is keen to say these spring from talks between companies, not governments. The deal, worth more than £1 billion according to unconfirmed reports, has failed to take place as the months have ticked by, and the Government faces the prospect that Rover’s 6,500 jobs will still be under threat by the general election, expected on May 5.

The report is here.