A REPORT suggesting thousands of jobs could be impacted if the UK leaves the EU has been slammed by a regional MEP.

Last week, Swindon Borough Council produced a non-political report suggesting that 10,000 jobs could be affected should the country chose to exit in referendum later this year.

Using figures based on the distribution of employment in the region, it says a higher than average proportion of people employed in Swindon rely of trade with Europe.

But South West and Gibraltar MEP Dr Julia Reid has attacked the report, saying it will not happen.

The UKIP politician says the new report, produced for Swindon Borough Council’s Economic Overview Committee, is wrong in its assumption that jobs could be hit negatively in the area should the UK vote to pull out of the EU.

She said: “The leave camp is depicted as being negative when it is the pro-EU campaign that is delivering bleak messages of fear such as Britain will be isolated should there be a Brexit.

“They say the same old mantras – we will lose trade, millions of jobs could go and Britain would be alone in the world when in fact, through leaving the EU, we could set up our own Free Trade Agreements unshackled by the European Union.

“If we left the EU, companies such as BMW and Volkswagen would still trade with us. They would not turn their back on a major customer.

“They claim Brexit would be disastrous when campaigners fighting for Britain to leave the UK are promoting a positive and global view where we would be unburdened by EU interference which prevents us from trading with the world on our own terms.”

The report was produced at the request of the committee to examine what the impact would be and was written by an officer, not a councillor.

The Chamber of Commerce said last week the potential loss of jobs would be a concern but said large amount of trade takes place with organisations outside the EU.

Ginette Gower, Head of Communications at the Thames Valley Chamber, said: ““There is no doubt that trade would be impacted across the country if voters decide they want to leave the EU.

“Regarding jobs in Swindon specifically, this does give rise for concern and this needs to be assessed carefully by businesses in the town, ahead of the Referendum.

“However, Thames Valley Chamber’s International Trade documentation service processed over £1bn worth of exports during 2015 and much of this was to non-EU countries.

“The highest by value are Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, representing £557m of the total. Other countries receiving goods and services throughout the period include Egypt, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China and Kuwait, clearly demonstrating the demand for British goods around the world.”