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Brexiteer: Philips factory closure is ‘great news’ for Brexit

BBC 6Music presenter and Brexiteer Liz Kershaw appears on Sky News' Sunrise programme. Photograph: Sky News. Archant

Brexiteer broadcaster Liz Kershaw has branded the loss of Philips from East Anglia as “great news” for Brexit on breakfast television.

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As she reviewed the newspapers for Sky News she left the presenters baffled, as well as fellow reviewer Julie Bindel, with her comments on the job losses at the baby bottle factory in Suffolk.

The business is going to stop manufacturing in the UK after bosses previously warned if a good Brexit deal was not delivered it would force a “rethink”.

While most would see the move as terrible, the BBC 6 Music DJ claimed this was “good news” because it showed Philips still had faith in the UK.

“I think this is great! It is terrible that jobs are lost in East Anglia, however, doesn’t it show faith by a multinational in a global market that they can manufacture these bottles in Holland and still easily frictionless trade import them to the UK?

“I’m just putting a positive spin on that.”

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Presenters Stephen Dixon and Gillian Joseph were forced to intervene - hinting that her argument was insensitive to those losing jobs.

Joseph said: “I don’t think the 430 people who have lost their job will see it as a positive.”

Kershaw, however, did not get the hint and continued to dig a large hole.

“I’m not saying that, I don’t like that, I’m saying rather than ‘ooh we’re leaving because Brexit is going to be bad’ I think you can put your own spin on anything.

“You could say that if you’re a Remainer, [but] if you believe in Brexit you can say ‘isn’t it good news that means Philips believes it can still transport these bottles and warmers frictionless trade back into the UK.

“I’m saying you can put any spin you want on this.”

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As those around her appeared less enthused by her spin the more she spoke it was clear Kershaw was finally starting to regret what she had said.

“I was only using it as an illustration that whatever belief is... you can interpret it in a positive or negative manner.

“I wish I’d never mentioned it!”

Presenter Stephen Dixon appeared to agree as they all moved on to talk of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The BBC declined to comment when approached by TNE, saying that Liz Kershaw is a freelance broadcaster.