|
Airbus CEO warns of 'harmful decisions' for UK jobs in a no-deal Brexit
Nothing subtle about that bit of econ blackmail.[Bus Insider] PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus warned on Thursday it could shift future wing-building out of Britain in the absence of a smooth exit from the European Union, predicting "potentially very harmful decisions" for its British operations in the event of a 'no-deal' Brexit. In a direct appeal to Britain's divided parliament to avoid such an outcome, Chief Executive Tom Enders acknowledged there would be no immediate change in its industrial presence, but issued his sharpest warning yet that future jobs are at risk. "The UK's aerospace sector now stands at the precipice," Enders said in a video released on Airbus' website. "If there is a no-deal Brexit, we at Airbus will have to make potentially very harmful decisions for the UK." The world's second-largest aerospace group employs 14,000 people in Britain, including 6,000 at its main wings factory at Broughton, Wales, and 3,000 in Filton, western England, where wings are designed and supported. Critics of previous warnings by Airbus have cast doubt on whether the France-based group would move significant operations out of Britain, arguing Broughton is an efficient factory and that the case for staying is buoyed by a weak sterling. German-born Enders insisted Airbus was not bluffing, adopting a more partisan tone than in previous statements. Airbus CEO statement at their web site found here. Posted by: Besoeker 2019-01-24 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=532725 |