STRATFORD MP Manuela Perteghella has declared “we must not let the criminals win” following Jaguar Land Rover’s confirmation its production remains at a standstill.
She is calling on the government to act swiftly to protect jobs and safeguard the regions manufacturing backbone after the Gaydon-based car maker reported its thwarted hopes manufacturing would begin again on Wednesday (September 24), following a cyber attack.
Dr Perteghella said: “The JLR supply chain includes over 100,000 staff who are now deeply concerned for their livelihoods.
“Without support, businesses in the supply chain will face very difficult decisions. Perfectly good businesses who operate on tight margins may be forced to make redundancies or even go to the wall if urgent action isn’t taken.
“The people behind this cyber-attack intend to harm our economy and industry. The victims will be local people whose jobs are lost if the right support is not given.
“The government cannot let this happen. We must not let the criminals win.
“A targeted furlough scheme is required and is essential to keep businesses in the supply chain and jobs afloat. Failure to act will cost our economy and local communities far more in the long run.
“The Liberal Democrats stand side by side with local businesses and their employees. We must protect our local workers, safeguard vital skills, and defend the industries that make this region thrive.”
The car company announced an extension of its current closure, which began on August 31, to at least October 1.
The extension will cost JLR tens of millions of pounds a day in lost revenue as well as raising major concerns about companies and jobs in the supply chain.
More than 33,000 people work directly for JLR in the UK, many of them employed on assembly lines in the West Midlands.
An estimated 200,000 more are employed by several hundred companies in the supply chain, who face a prolonged interruption to trade with what for many will be their largest client.
JLR, which produces the Jaguar, Range Rover and Land Rover marques, has also been forced to halt production and assembly at facilities in China, Slovakia, India and Brazil after its IT systems were effectively disabled by the cyber attack.
