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| Airbus chief says ministers have 'no clue' on Brexit | Airbus chief says ministers have 'no clue' on Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The chief executive of planemaker Airbus has accused the government of having no idea how to take the UK out of the EU without damaging the country. | The chief executive of planemaker Airbus has accused the government of having no idea how to take the UK out of the EU without damaging the country. |
| Tom Enders said it "still has no clue, or at least no consensus, on how to execute Brexit without severe harm". | Tom Enders said it "still has no clue, or at least no consensus, on how to execute Brexit without severe harm". |
| He was speaking as ministers prepare to meet at the prime minister's country residence to agree a blueprint for the UK's future relationship with the EU. | He was speaking as ministers prepare to meet at the prime minister's country residence to agree a blueprint for the UK's future relationship with the EU. |
| Airbus is taking steps to mitigate the impact of Brexit, Mr Enders said. | Airbus is taking steps to mitigate the impact of Brexit, Mr Enders said. |
| "Brexit in any form, soft or hard, light or clean - whatever you call it - will be damaging," he added. | "Brexit in any form, soft or hard, light or clean - whatever you call it - will be damaging," he added. |
| A government spokesperson said it was confident of reaching a good Brexit deal, adding: "We do not expect a no-deal scenario to arise." | A government spokesperson said it was confident of reaching a good Brexit deal, adding: "We do not expect a no-deal scenario to arise." |
| Mr Enders' comments follow a warning given last month that Airbus could leave the UK if the country leaves the single market and customs union without a transition deal. | Mr Enders' comments follow a warning given last month that Airbus could leave the UK if the country leaves the single market and customs union without a transition deal. |
| At the time, the company said: "This scenario would force Airbus to reconsider its investments in the UK, and its long-term footprint in the country." | At the time, the company said: "This scenario would force Airbus to reconsider its investments in the UK, and its long-term footprint in the country." |
| Airbus makes wings for the A320, A330/A340, A350 and A380 passenger planes in the UK and has 14,000 staff. | Airbus makes wings for the A320, A330/A340, A350 and A380 passenger planes in the UK and has 14,000 staff. |
| Analysis | |
| By Theo Leggett, BBC business correspondent | |
| Tom Enders made his comments in a light-hearted fashion - with a reference to England and France potentially facing each other in the World Cup final thrown in. | |
| But the message was deadly serious. The gloves have come off. | |
| It seems Airbus has lost patience with what it perceives as government infighting, and is demanding at least a degree of clarity over what the future will bring. | |
| In June, the European aerospace giant warned that a hard Brexit could force it to reconsider its investments in the UK. That produced a slap-down from the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who said its "threats" were "completely inappropriate". | |
| In response, Mr Enders pointed out today that if there was one company that made its voice heard, not only in London but in European capitals as well, it was Airbus. | |
| No plans to stay quiet then - and so a forthright message was delivered just as ministers gathered ahead of that oh-so-important meeting at Chequers. | |
| Warnings | |
| Airbus said the current planned transition period, due to end in December 2020, was too short for it to make changes to its supply chain. | |
| Mr Enders said he had a duty to Airbus shareholders to speak up: "We have been very clear about what the consequences particularly of a hard Brexit would be." | Mr Enders said he had a duty to Airbus shareholders to speak up: "We have been very clear about what the consequences particularly of a hard Brexit would be." |
| His comments are the latest warning on Brexit by big business. | His comments are the latest warning on Brexit by big business. |
| On Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover - the UK's biggest carmaker - said a "bad" Brexit deal could force it to close factories and would threaten £80bn of investment plans for the UK. | On Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover - the UK's biggest carmaker - said a "bad" Brexit deal could force it to close factories and would threaten £80bn of investment plans for the UK. |