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Motor giant Ford has signed an open letter to Call Me Dave saying how disastrous it would be if the UK left the Evil Empire. Quite why the words of the boss of a foreign corporation should carry any weight at all escapes me but to be lectured by this company on the benefits of EU membership is like being told off by Jimmy Savile for not looking after your kids properly.
For the record Ford claims to be the biggest Motor Company in the UK “Ford is the biggest motor company in the UK, with seven locations and over 550 Dealerships. We also have several large plants, where we manufacture vehicles, engines and transmissions, as well as parts and components. In total, Ford of Britain and its dealers employ around 35,000 people in product development, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and service roles. “
One assumes that if the UK left the EY Ford would still sell cars here. How many people work in an average dealer? Ten? Twenty? I do not know but that accounts for many of the Ford jobs. What happens at the seven “locations?” Car manufacture? Er . No. Ford has not made a car in Britain for more than a decade. It makes a few vans and some components.
Of course it used to make a lot more vans until the EU gave a whacking soft loan to a Ford jv in Turkey ( a country not actually in the EU) and Ford happily expanded its output there and slung hundreds of workers at its van factory in Southampton onto the dole. Hey I can see why Ford likes the EU but you think they are celebrating in Southampton?
Ford lost $1.5 billion in Europe last year so it is not exactly in a position to lecture the UK on what is best for our economy if it cannot run its own operations profitably.
The canard of folks like Ford is that if we quit the EU we will lose our exports to Europe as the Evil Empire puts up trade barriers. But Britain is a net IMPORTER across all sectors from the EU. I know that the EU is run by complete morons but stopping trade with a country to whom you are a net exporter is surely so suicidal that even the EU would not contemplate it.
After the Southampton incident being lectured by Ford on why we are better off in the EU really is like taking childcare lessons from Jimmy Savile.
Tom Winnifrith writes for 10 political and investment websites – his main content can be found at TomWinnifrith.com – you can follow Tom’s thoughts and articles on twitter @tomwinnifrith
Nice one! I’ve learnt to ignore the exhortations of people like Branson, and the WPP CEO, and especially politicians as they all have vested interests (such as Brussels jobs/free wine at 120 euro per bottle etc.). From my worms eye view all the EU ever did for me was ensure I’ll have to work for minimum wage all my life (if I get a job at all!).
Goodnight Vienna (Brussels and Strasbourg).