WORKERS at the Mini plant in Oxford continue to face an uncertain future in the New Year after the EU and the UK reached a 'wafer-thin' trade deal – and they are not the only ones according to the European Movement in Oxford group.

Chairman Graham Jones said there was 'little joy ' among members and supporters of his group at the quality of the 'negligent and damaging' deal.

In a strong-worded statement following Number 10's announcement, he said: "Workers at the Mini plant in Oxford continue to face an uncertain future, as do our university and research sectors.

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"National wealth will be lower, meaning less cash to pay for essential services like the NHS and schools.

"Citizens losing freedoms of travel, work, and residence.

"Consumers losing EU protections and companies threatened with cutting jobs outside the Single Market will hope the deal is a base point from which greater cooperation can be rebuilt brick-by-brick.

"Certainly, the agreement leaves the door wide open in umpteen places for renegotiation in specific areas, and as a cross-party movement we dare to hope that parliamentarians will seize every opportunity for rebuilding cooperation."

Mr Jones said the European Movement was willing to work with Oxfordshire MPs to keep the region as close to the rest of Europe as possible.