Airbus staff: ‘I voted Leave. People said Brexit would never affect us because we’re too big a company.’ Staff at the Airbus factory in North Wales said they have “grave concerns” about their future following the firm’s announcement […]

Staff at the Airbus factory in North Wales said they have “grave concerns” about their future following the firm’s announcement it could abandon its UK investments due to stalled Brexit negotiations.

Darren Reynolds, Unite the Union site convener for the wing production plant in Broughton, Flintshire, said it would be “devastating” for the area if the company chose to move production elsewhere following Brexit.

Speaking outside the factory on Friday he said: “I have just been speaking with the members locally in the plant and they are really concerned now regarding what the future looks like for Airbus. We’re coming into Article 50 in March and have not got any assurances on how we are going to get parts in and out of the plant going forward.”

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“Big business will always lobby for their interests, of course they will. I understand that.” Nigel Farage, former Ukip leader

Fitter David Lawless, 34, said the news came as a shock and there had been a mixed reaction from his colleagues. “A lot of people are brushing it off and saying it won’t happen, it’s just talk, but the reality is companies are folding before Brexit has even happened. I don’t know what is going to happen here,” he said.

Mr Lawless said he had voted leave in the Brexit referendum. “I was in two minds. I wanted to leave but obviously a lot of people were asking questions before about if we were to leave, how it would affect us,” he said. “People were saying it would never affect us here because it’s too big a company. I’m still happy I voted for it but I thought we had more of a hold and a footing here in Broughton.”

He added: “We need to fight for it and we just need to try and stick together and give the Government a reason to keep us here.”

‘Inevitable’

Peter Sinnott who has worked at the Broughton site since 1980, said the news had been “inevitable” since the Brexit vote.

He said: “Once we had a border (with Europe) it was always going to happen. Mr Farage knew the vote wouldn’t affect him either way. It’s every common man it affects. I’m 55 so it doesn’t really worry me but there are younger lads in there with mortgages to pay.”

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said it was a “wake-up call” and warned there must be “real progress” by October, when EU leaders will meet to discuss the Brexit withdrawal agreement. “I think they (businesses) will wait until then, but not beyond. Sensible voices need to prevail in the Brexit debate,” he said.

“A lot of people are brushing it off and saying it won’t happen, it’s just talk, but the reality is companies are folding before Brexit has even happened. I don’t know what is going to happen here.” David Lawless, Airbus fitter

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Airbus warning was the “tip of the iceberg”. Speaking at the British Irish Council in Guernsey, she added: “Airbus’s comments reflect comments I am hearing from Scottish businesses and other stakeholders on a daily basis. Those concerns have become more acute.”

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said that Airbus was engaged in lobbying for its interests.

He told Sky News: “Twenty years ago I heard car manufacturers saying if Britain didn’t join the euro they may well consider pulling out of Britain – Nissan, others like that. We build the wings in this country. If they close down production it would take them at least two years to put that back in place somewhere in France or Germany. Big business will always lobby for their interests, of course they will. I understand that.”

He added that he agreed with Airbus that there should be greater clarity over the UK’s post-Brexit plans. Rival aviation companies reiterated their commitment to UK investment on Friday although several said they wanted to see minimal disruption to trade following the negotiations.

Extend transition

In a Brexit “risk assessment” published on its website, Airbus called on the Government to extend the planned transition period due to run until December 2020, saying it was too short for the business to reorganise its supply chain.

Tom Williams, the chief operating officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, said Brexit would have “severe negative consequences” for the UK aerospace industry whether or not there was an agreement with Brussels.

“While Airbus understands that the political process must go on, as a responsible business we require immediate details on the pragmatic steps that should be taken to operate competitively, he said.

“Without these, Airbus believes that the impacts on our UK operations could be significant. “We have sought to highlight our concerns over the past 12 months, without success. Far from Project Fear, this is a dawning reality for Airbus. Put simply, a no-deal scenario directly threatens Airbus’ future in the UK.”

A Government spokeswoman said that while officials were working closely with companies to understand their concerns, they did not expect a “no deal” scenario to arise.

“We have made significant progress towards agreeing a deep and special partnership with the EU to ensure trade remains as free and frictionless as possible, including in the aerospace sector, and we’re confident of getting a good deal that is mutually beneficial,” the spokeswoman said.