Protest to be held at Nissan plant over impact of no-deal Brexit on North East jobs

Concerned residents from across the North East are set to hold the socially-distanced protest at Nissan’s Wearside facility next week, urging ministers to reject a no-deal departure.

The event is set to take place at 10am on Monday, July 20 with protesters bringing cardboard ‘bodies’ to visually represent potential losses to the supply chain, should the Government fail to reach a deal before the end of the Brexit transition period.

The group believes that a no-deal Brexit will severely damage the region’s economy, highlighting that bosses at Nissan have previously said the Sunderland plant would not be sustainable without a deal.

Louise Brown, protest spokeswoman, said: “Now that the Government have refused to extend the transition period, a no-deal Brexit has become increasingly more likely.

“As we highlighted at protests last month, the North East stands to be the worst affected by a no-deal Brexit.

"Nissan has said that the plant in Sunderland will not be sustainable in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”

As well as fears over the plant in Washington, the group has raised concerns about the impact on local supply chains to it.

Louise added: "In addition to the 7,000 jobs that would go at the actual plant, there would also be the loss of thousands of jobs connected to it within the supply chain.”

The announcement comes days after Nissan workers held their own protest at the plant over proposed changes to the company’s pension scheme.

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