We only found out on Twitter… it’s disgusting

to be named, said he did not expect to have a job by this morning.

He added: “You have a perfectly viable car plant operating for 30 years, no problem at all, then as soon as Brexit comes along the plant needs investment, a change from petrol to electric, but who is going to invest now?

“People like Justin Tomlinson, our MP, campaigned for this. He wanted Brexit. He gets to carry the can. If he’s not unseated by a massive majority at the next election then this town gets what it deserves.”

Asked about the mood in the plant, he said: “Pretty hacked off, to be fair.

”It’s tough times for automotive manufacturing as it is at the moment and Brexit just makes it impossible.

“The Government’s completely incompetent handling of the thing doesn’t help either, does it? What are like 44 days away from Brexit and they haven’t got a clue, they can’t even decide for themselves what Brexit means.

“This is idiocy of epic proportions.”

But another worker was gloomy about the site’s prospects even without Brexit.

He said: “The current model is only scheduled to be built until 2021 here in Swindon anyway, so even if the rumours are true, we were not sure how we were going to get past that date.”

Bazil Solomon, Labour candidate for Swindon Borough Council, said: “The figure that has been given is 3,500 job losses. But when you take into account suppliers, and other people involved in the building. I feel sick to my stomach. It’s awful news. It is devastating for Swindon.

“So many residents will be affected, it is going to affect their family lives.

“They have had no letters saying they are going to lose their jobs, they have had to find out through the national media.”