UK government has 'no clue' how to carry out Brexit, Airbus boss claims

Remarks follow Jaguar Land Rover warning that uncertainty could force it to move investment overseas and shut UK plants

Airbus chief executive Tom Enders accused the government of being clueless about Brexit on Friday morning, as he spoke ahead of the Farnborough air show.

“The sun is shining brightly on the UK, the English team is progressing towards the final, the RAF is preparing to celebrate its centenary and HMG still has no clue, no consensus on how to execute Brexit without severe harm,” the aerospace boss said, according to reports.

He said uncertainty around Brexit was “very discomforting”, and that the company had a duty to speak out about it on behalf of shareholders.

“Rest assured that we are taking first preparations, as we speak, in order to mitigate consequences from whatever Brexit scenario may follow,” Mr Enders said.

“Brexit in whatever form, soft or hard, light or clean, whatever you call it, will be damaging for industry, for our industry and damaging for the UK – whatever the outcome will be.”

His remarks were made as members of the cabinet gather at Chequers for an anticipated showdown over Theresa May’s new Brexit plan. The prime minister faces a backlash from pro-Brexit MPs after documents circulated to ministers ahead of the summit indicated that the new approach would make it impossible to negotiate a US-UK trade deal.

“Let’s see what comes out of Chequers: white smoke, black smoke or no smoke,” said Mr Enders.

Airbus is the latest in a string of businesses to warn that the continued lack of clarity on Brexit is going to cause problems for companies operating in the UK.

Earlier this week Jaguar Land Rover warned that it urgently needs “greater certainty” about the future or it will be forced to move investment overseas and could ultimately have to shut down British plants.

Stuart Richards, a senior organiser at union GMB, said the car maker’s statement should prompt the government to set aside its “squabbling” and listen to companies’ concerns.

“Our members at Jaguar Land Rover do skilled jobs with decent pay and contribute millions to the real economy,” he said.

“We cannot afford to lose Jaguar Land Rover and its supply chain – it would be an economic car crash.

“The best thing that could come out of the prime minister’s get-together at Chequers is a clear commitment to the UK being part of a customs union with Europe.”