Anneliese Dodds urges Boris Johnson to meet BMW chief about impact of no-deal Brexit on Mini

Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, has urged the Prime Minister to accept an offer from BMW CEO, Harald Kruger, to discuss the impact of no deal on Mini production in the city.

Mr Kruger said this week it would be a 'lose-lose' scenario if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, with BMW previously warning it could force the company out of Oxford.

And the city council's cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Tom Hayes, has called a no-deal Brexit a 'clear and present danger' to the plant.

Ms Dodds echoed the BMW's chief call to 'listen to the economy and listen to the people', adding: "I have repeatedly warned about the negative impact of a no-deal Brexit on automotive manufacturing.

"The BMW Cowley plant is a real jewel in the crown of the UK automotive industry - but this government's reckless approach threatens it with excessive delays, paperwork and tariffs at the border.

"Last week, Boris Johnson told me directly in the House of Commons about his pride in UK technology, especially that based on batteries.

"If he really is proud of it then he needs to back important innovations like the electric Mini, and actually find out what the impact of a 'no deal' Brexit would be on those innovations."

In her letter, the MP claimed no deal would have an 'extremely negative' impact on Mini production, by 'slowing up the supply chain' and potentially seeing tariffs placed on motor exports.

Ms Dodds, whose constituency includes the Cowley plant, wrote: "I have heard many times from staff at the plant about how worried they are. These people are not politicians, they are engineers, technicians and mechanics."

Mr Johnson has played down the risks of no deal and previously spoke of his determination to leave the EU by October 31.

Number 10 did not respond when asked if the Prime Minister would be accepting the BMW chief's invitation.

The Oxford plant's 4,500 employees face an uncertain future due to Brexit, with bosses saying earlier this year that no deal could force the company to move 'some or all' of Mini production to Holland.

Mr Kruger's offer to meet Mr Johnson in the UK is the latest in a series of calls for clarity from the the car-maker over Britain's departure from the EU.

This year, Brexit uncertainty meant the plant moved its annual four-week shutdown to April, to coincide with the UK's planned withdrawal date of March 31.

Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council's cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford, said visits to the site showed 'just how committed' staff are to staying in Oxford.

He added: "The road ahead looks bumpy for the Mini plant because of Boris Johnson’s bumbling about a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

"This is a new Prime Minister who recklessly addressed concerns about a no deal Brexit with the expletive ‘f**k business’.

"Here, we’re seeing that, for once, this clown Prime Minister does as he says."

The plant celebrates the 60th anniversary of Mini production this year, with one car built every 67 seconds and about 80 per cent exported to more than 100 countries.

Last month, BMW unveiled its first all-electric Mini and production is set to begin in Oxford this November, before the car hits the streets in March.

This was hailed as a 'huge vote of confidence' in the Cowley plant, but Mr Hayes said the consequences of no deal would go beyond Mini production in the city.

He added: "The rise in more affordable electric vehicles that can be mass-produced is an absolute priority for cleaning our dirty air and tackling our climate emergency.

"It’s why this council invests in rolling out hundreds of pioneering electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including the world’s first pop up chargers.

"Frankly, a no deal Brexit is a clear and present danger to the work of this council, as well as high-skilled jobs for thousands of local employees and the right kind of growth for Oxford."

The councillor continued: "A majority of the British public opted for a new future out of the EU, but nowhere on the referendum ballot was there the small-print to destroy our automotive sector and the Mini Plant."

Last month, BMW confirmed it had stopped producing petrol engines at its Warwickshire factory for cars built in South Africa, due to fears over post-Brexit tariffs.

In February, Nissan decided not to build a new car in the UK and Honda said it was closing its Swindon plant, although neither blamed Brexit specifically.

The plant declined to comment on Ms Dodds' letter.