'˜Devastating', '˜scaremongering' and '˜madness' - readers react to Nissan's pause on UK investment plans

One of Wearside's largest employers is the talk of the city today after its chairman announced the company's deferral of UK investment plans.
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Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn is reported to have said his firm, which employs thousands of people at its Sunderland plant, is deferring all long-term business decisions while it remains “in the dark” about Britain’s future relationship with the EU.

The long-term future of the Wearside plant has been much-discussed since the Brexit vote two years ago. Company bosses vowed to consistently “re-evaluate” Nissan’s position as the process continued on - despite announcing that the new Qashqai and X-Trail would be built at its Sunderland plant just months after our Brexit fate was sealed.

Working at Nissan in Sunderland on the Qashqai.Working at Nissan in Sunderland on the Qashqai.
Working at Nissan in Sunderland on the Qashqai.
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In talks with the Government, the Japanese firm warned that its “business circumstances” would change if Britain did not remain within the European Customs Union

Readers have been voicing their own concerns about how their city, and further region, could be affected if Nissan’s position in Sunderland were to change.

Here’s how you reacted to the story on social media:

Louise Brown: “I think now it’s time for the People’s Vote on a final deal to stop this madness before it’s too late. The Tory government are making a real mess of Brexit and they have never cared about the NE let’s face it. It would be devastating if Nissan pulls out of this region.”

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Rachel Thompson-Chapman: “North East to be massively affected by [Brexit] and all the muppets who voted for it. I bet over half that work in Nissan voted for it too. Maybe should have thought about their jobs before leaping in blindly thinking they knew what they were voting for. When in actual fact all they were voting for is the Tories screwing over the North East again.”

Dawn Kershaw: “People need to wake up to the fact that the car industry works on extremely slim margins. You can be the most highly-skilled, productive plant in the world but if you don’t make a profit then you are toast. It really is as simple as that.”

Andrew Yule: “Ha! Remoaners being proved correct. This disgraceful government does not care if all our industry goes. Come to senses everyone, Brexit time is pauper time.”

John Jenkins: “People need to realise this isn’t a joke and will likely end badly, especially for places like Sunderland.”

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Phil Oakes: “Scaremongering tactics. Same tactics were used to vote us into a European democracy in the first place.”

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Nissan 'halts investment plans' while it remains 'in the dark' over Brexit plans...

Iain Ball: “We lost ship building and the pits, Nissan pulling out isn’t going to be a problem.”

John Reid: “Welcome to the club, everyone is in the dark over Brexit plans.”

Chris Mallaburn: “Nissan will not close, it’s project fear.”

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John Lamb: “All businesses hate uncertainty because they can’t make investment decisions based on ifs and maybes, so that leaves Nissan’s future in Sunderland in the balance, but make no mistake that if extra costs burden the business due to bureaucracy at the borders then they will up sticks. The EU negotiators have made it clear that if we leave the single market and the customs union which May intends to do, then there can be no frictionless trade.”

Michael Harford: “Once again Nissan holding the government to ransom! They have invested so heavily in their plant here there is no way they will just up sticks and leave.”