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The Japanese car giant today said it will build a new electric model and huge battery plant in Sunderland with financial support from the Government. The move is expected to create 6,200 jobs at the Sunderland plant and in other British supply chains. Before the Brexit deal with the European Union was agreed, Nissan had warned over the future of the north-east plant if the Government was unable to secure an agreement.
The new announcement today prompted social media users to unearth old tweets from Tony Blair’s former spin doctor, who had shared his concerns.
Back in November 2019, Mr Campbell, known for speaking out against Brexit result, warned leaving the EU without a deal would result in the car manufacturer also moving elsewhere.
He wrote on Twitter: “If we leave, Nissan leave.”
However, Mr Campbell has not posted anything about the Nissan announcement on Twitter today.
One Twitter user pointed this out as they wrote: “Campbell is very quiet today….”
Another person said: “I told you so.”
And another replied with a meme of Mr Campbell looking sad, with the caption: “Remainers humiliated.”
The Daily Express’ political editor David Maddox also added: “As accurate as his dossier on Iraq…”
READ MORE: Brussels LAUGHS at Brexit frictions sparked by EU bureaucracy
“It is a pivotal moment in our electric vehicle revolution securing its future for decades to come.”
Guillaume Cartier, Nissan chairman for Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania, added the news showed the company was committed to Britain for at least the next 10 years.
He said: “We are choosing Sunderland, so it is showing the trust that the company, that the government, that our partner, have with the plant.
“This is not one shot, this is not one car, this is the plan and this is for 10 years’ engagement.”
In 2019, Nissan’s chief operating officer, Ashwani Gupta, shared doubts about the future of the plan in Sunderland if there was no Brexit deal.
He said at the time: “If it happens without any sustainable business case obviously it is not a question of Sunderland or not Sunderland, obviously our UK business will not be sustainable, that’s it.”
However, he appeared to have changed his tune after he told the BBC today: “The key success factor for Brexit has always been trade friendly business conditions to sustain our business not only in the UK but in the whole of Europe and thanks to Brexit, Nissan is moving forward to use Brexit as an opportunity.”
He did not confirm how much money the Government was planning to contribute to the new plan.
But he did say that talks were continuing.
Mr Gupta added: “But, for sure, without the Government support it would have not been possible.”
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