The Japanese car manufacturer, Honda has confirmed on Tuesday morning that the Swindon car plant will close in 2021, there will be a loss of 3,500 jobs.
The car manufacturer made 160,000 Honda Civics in Swindon in 2018, this decision comes weeks after Nissan decided to build the new X-Trail SUV in Japan amid Brexit uncertainty.
The Unite union said the closure is a “shattering body blow at the heart of UK manufacturing.” The union said this has “brought low by the chaotic Brexit uncertainty created by the rigid approach adopted by the prime minister Theresa May.”
Des Quinn the Unite’s national officer for the automotive sector said, “The 3,500-strong workforce do skilled, well-paid jobs that the UK can ill-afford to lose.
“We will be doing everything we can in the coming days and weeks to support our members at this grave time for them, their families and the UK economy.
“This will also affect thousands of jobs in the extensive supply chain across the country. This would be the single biggest automotive closure since Rover in 2005.
“Business Secretary Greg Clark needs to make an urgent statement on what the government intends to do to rectify this dire situation, if the reports prove correct.
“It appears that the chickens are coming home to roost big-time because of Brexit uncertainty.
“If the government had advance warning of this dreadful news and did not alert the unions, this is an appalling and cavalier attitude by ministers.”
Last year Ian Howells, Honda’s senior vice-president warned the government that if the UK leaves the EU with a no-deal Brexit it will cost Honda tens of millions of pounds.
Leave a Comment