Hard Brexit will be disaster for manufacturing
TODAY, I visit two great, historic centres of British manufacturing which are being forgotten and sidelined by the Tories’ hardline position on Brexit.
In Coventry, I will meet some of the 8,000 workers who depend on Jaguar Land Rover. In Wirral, I will meet Ellesmere Port staff under threat after Peugeot Citroen’s takeover of General Motors.
The automotive industry employs 52,000 in the West Midlands and 20,000 in the North West. So, 46.5% of vehicle manufacturing jobs are in these regions.
While PM, I fought to save and expand Jaguar and Vauxhall and I will not give up the fight for jobs now. Over 30 years, the UK built a car sector on which 800,000 jobs depend, directly and indirectly. It contributes £15.8billion to the economy and 9.4% of manufacturing output.
DISTURBING
We are so competitive and productive we export 80% of what we make. Half of all vehicles produced here are sold in the EU. And our car sector is so integrated with mainland Europe, millions of parts go back and forward before assembly.
Any disruption to this supply chain, like raised tariffs and custom barriers, will hit jobs. So it is disturbing the Government refuses to make manufacturing a central negotiating priority for Brexit.
The Engineering Employers Federation, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and others have complained about Mrs May saying she might prefer to have no deal.
But every opinion poll shows that what I seek for jobs – free trade and easy access to the European market – is supported by both Remain and Leave. It’s the one negotiating aim that could unite us.
So the future of manufacturing must be on the ballot paper on June 8.
Mrs May won’t reveal her negotiating hand. She wants a blank cheque, which no worker here can afford to give her.
I worry for British manufacturing under hard Brexit plans – and that’s where Labour comes in. We have not fought over 30 years for the manufacturing and car sector to lead in Europe, only for Tories to throw it away for hardline dogma when even Leave want to fight for free trade.