MORE OXFORD leaders have said they are 'sorry' to hear about the job cuts at BMW.

Yesterday bosses revealed that nearly half of the agency workers at the Cowley plant are set to lose their jobs.

It is understood that around 400 people will be axed because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on customer demand and 'volume forecasts for 2020'.

Oxford Mail:

Responding to the news, Layla Moran said: "This sad news shows the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on jobs right here in Oxford.

"I'm very sorry to hear of these planned job losses.

"The government must do everything it can to protect working people through that crisis.

"And we need to make sure nobody who loses their job at this very difficult time is left without the support they need to get back on their feet."

Green councillor Dick Wolff also said he was upset about the news.

Oxford Mail:

He said: "As the global demand for fossil fuelled car falls, a trend which pre-dates COVID, we had always hoped that the production by BMW of electric cars in Oxford would help maintain jobs.

"But, the uncertainty created by COVID and Brexit has inevitably led BMW to re-consider production volumes and hence staffing."

On Wednesday Susan Brown, the leader of the council, and Anneliese Dodds, the MP for Oxford East, put out a joint statement 'expressing their deepest sympathies to workers and families who have been affected'.

Explaining the reasons behind the job cuts Mini bosses said they had 'sought to protect as many jobs as possible'.