Pay heed to Airbus warnings, says minister
AIRBUS and other major employers that have demanded more clarity on Brexit should be “listened to with respect”, the Business Secretary has said, as the Government tried to calm a row over the progress of negotiations with Brussels.
In recent days Airbus, BMW and Siemens have all issued warnings about the effects on British jobs of continued uncertainty over the Brexit deal, which have been dismissed by some ministers as “inappropriate”.
But Greg Clark, a Remain supporter in the EU Referendum, held out an olive branch to the firms in question as he answered an urgent question on Airbus in the House of Commons.
He said: “Any company and any industry that supports the livelihoods of so many working people is entitled to be listened to with respect.
“The Government has been clear that we are determined to secure a deal with the EU that meets the needs of our aerospace firms and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on them, and that in particular products made in the UK can be approved for use across Europe, that there should be no tariffs or any unnecessary friction in the trade between the UK and the EU, that skilled employees will be able to work across multiple sites of an integrated operation.”
Mr Clark said Theresa May had clearly outlined these objectives in public and in the negotiations. He added: “In the months ahead, my colleagues and I will work closely with businesses to ensure the terms of our new relationship are one in which we can continue to enjoy the prosperity that working in aerospace brings to so many people in all parts of the United Kingdom.”
Airbus said last week that a “lack of clarity” over Brexit could force it to leave the UK, where it directly employs 14,000 people. BMW said that if firms had to spend money on contingency planning for a “no deal” Brexit it would make Britain less competitive.
Mr Clark said the warnings were “completely consistent” with what “every part of the industry collectively has been saying” directly and through the industry trade body.
Labour MP Mark Tami said: “The Government needs to wake up and listen rather than just address Tory infighting.”
Shadow business minister Chi Onwurah said: “The Secretary of State may say he is listening but the Health Secretary calls Airbus completely inappropriate, the Trade Secretary blames the EU and it would be unparliamentary to fully quote the Foreign Secretary.
“Businesses are told to shut up when they call for clarity, Labour MPS are accused of scaremongering, Conservative MPS called traitors. This Government is so insecure, so at odds with itself and the country, that it cannot stand scrutiny.”