Honda to close UK factory

[vetran]

Sorry, did I forget to say thanks to the English taxpayer for our free Uni, free prescriptions, free care for the elderly, free bus passes for over 60s, etc., again?

Thank you for your kind gifts. I don't know why you continue to hold onto us?

cause you won't bugger off? Given the opportunity to vote out you didn't because you still want the subsidy!

[Yorkie62]

Sorry, did I forget to say thanks to the English taxpayer for our free Uni, free prescriptions, free care for the elderly, free bus passes for over 60s, etc., again?

Thank you for your kind gifts. I don't know why you continue to hold onto us?

As long as you keep the pocket money coming, they won't want to leave.

cause you won't bugger off? Given the opportunity to vote out you didn't because you still want the subsidy!

And when you do leave you can become the EU's next Greece - without the sun. (if Germany will have you one it realises just how much money it's going to have to give you)

[Old Greg]

Why would Honda announce its first factory closure in 71 years, just a few weeks before the UK enters its economic miracle? It is very suspicious. Is Soros pulling the strings?

[BlasterBates]

The fact that car manufacturers are pulling out of the UK permanently is clearly due to a temporary downturn in a global market with longterm growth.

[darmstadt]

Why would Honda announce its first factory closure in 71 years, just a few weeks before the UK enters its economic miracle? It is very suspicious. Is Soros pulling the strings?

Brexiters will cite the fact that they didn't mention Brexit as a factor in the press release however Honda have now toned it down a bit:

“Honda is on record as stating that its preferred scenario following Brexit is one that delivers frictionless trade, access to talent and regulatory alignment,” the company said.

“It is true that a ‘no-deal’ scenario would cause a number of challenges for our operations. However, no one single event has led to the proposal to cease production at Swindon. The decision is in response to unprecedented change in the global automotive industry and the need to deploy electrification technologies across our business.”

Back in 2018, Honda said:

Keating predicted that Brexit could interrupt crucial “just in time” delivery of 2m parts a day, 20% of which come from Europe and which allow smooth operation of the company’s supply chain.Brexit also raised the prospect of increased customs controls and paperwork, he said, warning that suppliers might have to fill out 60,000 customs declaration forms a year. He also pointed out that 20% of staff at Swindon were EU nationals and expressed concern about regulatory divergence that could force the company to carry out two differing sets of tests on vehicles.
Keating said Honda’s requirements included tariff-free barriers, access to the EU’s free-trade agreements with other countries, access to talent and the ability to move staff from one country to another, a clear plan on regulations and a predictable Brexit process with a meaningful transition period.

[BlasterBates]

It's all part of the big plan

The devastating future for Welsh manufacturing predicted by a Brexit economist - and why he said it was a good thing - Wales Online

Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg has urged the public to listen to a Cardiff economist who said Brexit would lead to running down the car industry “in the same way we ran down the coal and steel industries”.

[BlasterBates]

oh what a coincidence car plants are shutting down

[meridian]

This, and the delay in the Japan FTA, are linked.

Japan have repeatedly advised the U.K. government that No Deal and Brexit in general would not be ideal for them. Whether or not you think that a foreign party should have a say is immaterial, they are protecting their investments and they have influence.

The real problem for them, though, is that the U.K. government have repeatedly made assurances to them that they would be okay and would be looked after, while in practice doing the opposite.

Japan takes honour seriously, and feels that the U.K. government has acted dishonourably. And just like the U.K. media eggs on the U.K. government, the Japanese media is egging on the Japanese Government not to deal with a dishonourable partner.

[darmstadt]

"We've also seen business plans where electric vehicles have been made and the batteries are going to be made on site with a supply chain.

"There were ships on the way to the UK with the robots to make the electric cars and those ships were turned back - we were told by a senior figure in Honda,"

hmmm