Brexit could kill ‘Made in Britain’ tag and put 100,000 British manufacturing jobs at risk, industry bosses claim
Heads of Airbus, Siemens and GKN insist investment will go elsewhere if Britain leaves the EU
BREXIT will put 100,000 UK manufacturing jobs at risk, a new report warns today as three industry bosses unite to say leaving the EU could spell an end to the famous “Made in Britain” tag.
In a major intervention for the Remain side, the heads of Airbus, Siemens and GKN – who between them employ 35,000 people in Britain – will share a platform to insist investment will go to other countries if the UK quits the Brussels club.
They will speak up as a Centre for Economics and Business Research report argues 107,390 extra manufacturing jobs will be created in Britain thanks to the EU single market by 2030 - and could vanish under Brexit.
But that was branded “absurd” by Leave campaigner and ex-British Chambers of Commerce chief John Longworth, who said: “The jobs they refer to don’t even exist - so how can they be at risk?”
Last night Airbus UK President Paul Khan, Siemens UK CEO Juergen Maier and GKN boss Nigel Stein all warned the UK would be less attractive for major investment outside the European Union.
Mr Khan and Mr Maier added to that by accusing Leave campaigners of not caring if Britain stops being a country of makers in an article for The Sun, saying: “The UK was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and the tag ‘Made in Britain’ still means something today.
“However, people campaigning to leave the EU do not seem to care about making things here and the millions of jobs that rely on it.”
They added: “EU membership is good for British manufacturing and it will help to ensure that future generations of Brits continue to make things that the world wants to buy.”
The message from titans of industry was welcomed by pro-EU Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, who said: “Today’s warning from some of our biggest manufacturing companies is a wake-up call to our country.
“Leading employers are saying investment and jobs are at risk if we leave Europe. That means future generations deprived of opportunities. It means less financial security for British families.”
Meanwhile International Development Secretary Justine Greening warned Italy and Spain are plotting to hijack 1,000 jobs from London if voters opt for Brexit on June 23.
She said the countries have lobbied for two EU quangos based in the capital to be relocated under Brexit.