The people of Swindon: do they regret voting for Brexit?

[EddyF]

With the closure of Honda - closing their Swindon plant, with the loss of 3,500 jobs, which the firm has attributed to Brexit, I wonder if the people of Swindon are having regrets since they were from the leave camp.

Reminds me of those who voted for Trump knowing his policies were targeted at them but felt they somehow were exempt. Like the Mexican man and his US wife voting for Trump then crying on the news he had been deported/couldn't get back in when he was out of the country.

I'm finding it really difficult sympathising with those who voted to leave by not looking at their own circumstances, but rather, other people. Majority of the people I have heard from who voted leave (from fb, and so on) they only cared about immigration. They thought leaving meant a 'clear up' taking hardly into account their own future and that of their children.

I'm sorry to the people in Swindon, but they did it to themselves.

And before people say "there wasn't enough information" there was enough to determine that we did not know what the 'deal' was.

I can't link article for Honda but it's everywhere on news sites.

Nice of you to lump all of Swindon together, including our migrant communities, many of whom work at Honda...

Surely, surely this means that some kind of second referendum is on the cards?

Madge do you realise that a lot of people voted for Brexit because they have been left behind socially and economically and are desperate for change? I think they got it spectacularly wrong but I don’t blame them.

The plant in Swindon has been on the block since the EU made a deal with Japan for tariff free car trade. Why would a company build elsewhere if they can build at home cheaper and then trade free? I say this as a remainer.

The UK buys less and less honders each year its Southern Europe who buys them. They got the EU deal they needed and they sell more in the EU so they don't need to manufacture in the UK.

*Honda (damn auto correct)

I read an analysis the other day (in relation to job losses at Ford) that made a lot of sense. It's not the threat of a no deal Brexit OR stricter diesel regulation OR the weak pound that's resulting in manufacturers moving elsewhere, it's the fact that they are now facing a no-deal Brexit AND stricter diesel regulation AND a weak pound. While companies might be willing to stay put in the face of one or two obstacles, once the obstacles keep adding up they'll move somewhere else.

Honda have been very specific in saying it is not due to brexit

I agree Alaimo, it's a combination of factors and the total lack of certainty.

Even if I had voted Leave, I think the total shambles the negotiations process has turned out to be would've turned me off the idea long ago. It certainly doesn't seem to be an attractive environment for businesses or manufacturing.

I blame the fuckwit politicians for spinning so much bile and whipping up a massive frenzy based on nothing but their own self-serving agendas.

Yes, me too.

And those infamous Brexiteers listed above who have protected themselves are either disaster capitalists who stand to make a LOT of money, or business owners who wish to see employment law trashed so they can take advantage of workers.

It’s nothing to do with Brexit, although the bbc would have you believe it is, two words. Project Fear.

It's no longer project fear, it's Project Reality: Mass redundancies.

The weak pound has been caused by Brexit.

It would be really nice if just brexiteers suffered instead of everyone being flushed down the toilet.

What caused mass redundancies before Brexit? I remember the decline of industry in the North for many years and nobody seemed to give a fuck about it.

Honda have been very specific in saying it is not due to brexit

Cool.

I'm sure Nissan, Dyson, Flybmi, Panasonic, Sony, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Phillips, Hitachi, Toshiba have said the same. It's all just coincidence.

Jaguar Land Rover have suffered because the Chinese market is not what it was. They have also been affected by the issue of Diesel engines being less desirable.

And the others?

"The wonderful thing about being a Brexiteer ( I know this because my dad is one) is that you never have to admit you were wrong, whatever happens. You can just sit and point the finger at other people. Brexit is an excellent idea - if anything bad happens it’s Theresa May’s fault for negotiating badly. Brexit is an excellent idea - if it doesn’t work it’s your fault for not believing in it. Brexit is an excellent idea - Honda’s just leaving because of the diesel emissions legislation. Didn’t need them anyway."

Yes, and any bad news is just 'project fear'. Even if we have no-deal and huge problems, they will be attributed to something else.

I found these articles in Automative News

28 Nov 2018: Honda drops diesels in Europe in electric push

europe.autonews.com/article/20181128/ANE/181129850/honda-drops-diesels-in-europe-in-electric-push

Honda is axing its diesel cars in Europe as it adds full-electric and hybrid powertrains in a green technology push

By 2021, Honda will have no diesel models on sale in Europe...
Honda has said it wants two thirds of its vehicles sold in Europe to be electrified by 2025

Jun 2018: EV push threatens 75,000 German auto industry jobs, study says

europe.autonews.com/article/20180605/ANE/180609877/ev-push-threatens-75-000-german-auto-industry-jobs-study-says

The 75,000 threatened jobs are based on the assumption that 25 percent of all cars will be full electric by 2030, 15 percent plug-in hybrids, and 60 percent gasoline and diesel variants

A more rapid adoption of EVs could threaten 100,000 jobs

EVs take 30 percent less time to assemble than current passenger vehicles ... ^A battery factory requires only a fifth of the workforce when compared with an engine plant,

@Crockof Agree 100% with you. Also have you seen the price of his hairdryers .

I have had a couple of Dyson's but would never buy another Shark liftaway is AMAZING my carpet looks brand new the hypocrisy is astounding.

Let's not forget that every brexiters favourite (and only) economist, Patrick Minford, said that the car industry would have to be run down.
'These things happen' he said.

I'm sure Nissan, Dyson, Flybmi, Panasonic, Sony, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Phillips, Hitachi, Toshiba have said the same. It's all just coincidence
and why would they lie as to their reasons for leaving?

I was born near Swindon and basically those who left to go to university never returned. I still know people there, diehard Brexiteers, and they will be affected. Well tough shit.

They'll blame everything else but the trade deal that EU & Japan have signed up to, that we won't be a part of due to Brexit, is a death knell to the British automotive industry.

I do have other friends in Swindon that voted remain & they're worrying about their jobs (not directly linked to Honda but through the supply chain). I truly hope they'll be ok. The leavers can go to hell.

goady thread alert

im sure you feel great madge knowing you were right-good for you

Yes, and any bad news is just 'project fear'. Even if we have no-deal and huge problems, they will be attributed to something else.

And you don't have to have a solid argument. You can just say 'we won' despite the fact it was an advisory rigged referendum with dodgy money backing it or 'Brexit means Brexit'.

To which I now counter - Unemployment means unemployment.