Honda, one of the leading Japanese car manufacturers, is set to close down its plant based in the U.K. The company is planning to discontinue its operations in the said factory by 2022 but it will retain its European headquarters located in Berkshire.
The planned closure of the Honda factory in the U.K. was announced more than a month prior to the Brexit deadline and over 3,000 people are set to lose their jobs. While MP Justin Tomlinson said that the decision to shut down the plant in Swindon is not due to Brexit but current global trends, the workers do not think this way.
According to The Guardian, people who work at the Honda plant expressed their fears and anger due to the closure and they are blaming Brexit for this situation. It was said that workers shared that the atmosphere inside the factory was "not very happy" since they will be jobless in three years. Some of these workers are also criticized the Conservative MP Tomlinson for supporting and campaigning for Brexit.
On his Twitter, the MP insisted that Honda's decision to leave Swindon was not caused by the Brexit and revealed that he personally spoke with the Japanese car manufacturing company's officials.
"Robert Buckland and I have already spoken to the Business Secretary & Honda. They are clear this is based on global trends and not Brexit as all European market production will consolidate in Japan in 2021," he tweeted.
As Honda revealed its plans for the future of its plant in Swindon, Des Quinn, Britain's largest trade union's national officer for the automotive sector demanded a statement from Greg Clark, the country's business minister.
"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," Quinn stated. "We are seeking urgent clarification from Honda on the implications of these serious reports. The 3,500-strong workforce skilled, well-paid jobs that the UK can ill-afford to lose."
He added, "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."
Sky News reported that Honda is set to its production back to Japan. The transfer will also be beneficial to the company since it can enjoy guaranteed tariff-free exports to the EU.
The Honda's Swindon plant produced around 160,000 Honda Civics in 2018 and this is equivalent to more than 10 percent of total UK's vehicle production. The majority of the vehicles were exported to the EU.
Meanwhile, when contacted for comments, Honda declined to discuss the topic of Swindon plant's closure. Instead, the company's spokesperson said, "At this point, we are not able to make any comments regarding the speculation. We take our responsibilities to our associates very seriously and will always communicate any significant news with them first."
