Jesus I despise Brexit.

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grufty jim G
grufty jim Feb 20, 2019 13:59:13
Replying to nigelswift

My final word on the Honda thing. I'm still seeing people insist that it had nothing to do with Brexit. Apparently the CEO of Honda said so in a press release.

I wonder how many other corporate press releases those people take at face value?

Much more instructive is to delve a little bit deeper than the PR machines of government and corporations... this, for example, makes a fascinating read:
PDF File

It's a statement submitted by the Honda Corporation to the UK's Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy Committee on the subject of "Leaving the EU: implications for the automotive industry". It's from last year.

It makes no mention of "global consolidation" and in fact makes it clear that the UK operation will be a part of the conversion of electric vehicles (i.e. they had plans to switch from petrol to electric at Swindon).

Most of the document, however is spent detailing the difficulties that Brexit will cause its business.

I am not saying Brexit is the only reason. But people saying it's not a major reason are simply not bothering to look at the facts. You can't read that document; which is basically Honda warning the British government about the negative consequences of Brexit a year ago; you can't read it and not think Brexit is a MAJOR factor in Honda's decision.

And as I say; they even warned the government a year ago. So whatever the CEO says now in a press release might be worth taking with a pinch of salt.

T tjj
tjj Feb 20, 2019 16:01:51
Replying to grufty jim

I've read the Honda PDF File 2017 and yes, I cannot dispute it does seem Brexit is a big factor - although the tariff free trade deal between Japan and the EU must have influenced Honda's change of direction.

I got involved with this discussion to defend the Honda workers and Swindon as a town. I understand, not sure from where (might be here) all the Honda employees were advised by their management to vote Remain. They've done nothing wrong.

This morning I heard Ken Clarke on the radio refer to the right wing nationalists in the ERG and as you probably know by now, three Conservative MPs have left the party saying it has been taken over by said Right Wing Nationalists.

I'm very sad about the fact Northern Ireland has become a political football in all of this - I will be staying in County Antrim for a week in a couple of months time. I would like to think things will have settled down by then but I very much doubt it.