Japanese car maker Honda is set to announce the closure of its Swindon car plant in 2022 (pictured), putting 3,500 jobs at risk
Union blames Theresa May for ‘chaotic Brexit uncertainty’ after Honda announces it will close Swindon plant in 2022, with the loss of 3,500 jobs
Japanese car maker Honda is set to close its Swindon factory in 2022 in a move that will put 3,500 jobs at risk.
The firm will announce the closure of its Wiltshire plant tomorrow in a fresh blow to the country’s automotive sector amid rife uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Trade union Unite blamed the potential job losses on Theresa May’s ‘rigid approach’ to negotiations with EU, claiming the threat of no deal had led to ‘chaotic Brexit uncertainty’.
The plant
It is the latest blow to hit Britain’s car manufacturing industry, with several international firms threatening to close plants amid Brexit reservations.
In December, Nissan announced it would no longer build its X-Trail car at its plant in Sunderland and Jaguar Land Rover recently said it would cut 4,500 UK jobs.
Meanwhile, Ford bosses have warned a no-deal Brexit would be ‘catastrophic’ and would cost them 1,000 jobs – mainly at its Bridgend plant in Wales.
Scroll down for video
Japanese car maker Honda is set to announce the closure of its Swindon car plant in 2022 (pictured), putting 3,500 jobs at risk
The Honda plant in Swindon, Wiltshire is pictured in a file photo from 1998
Des Quinn, Unite national officer for the automotive sector said: ‘If these reports are confirmed, this would be a shattering body blow at the heart of UK manufacturing.
‘The car industry in the UK over the last two decades has been the jewel in the crown for the manufacturing sector – and now it has been brought low by the chaotic Brexit uncertainty created by the rigid approach adopted by Prime Minister Theresa May.