Nissan: unions and politicians react to announcement

Nissan says 'uncertainty around Brexit' are not helping companies Credit: ITV News

Nissan, who employs around 7,000 people at its plant in Washington, announced it no longer planned to manufacture its X-Trail model in Sunderland. It will instead produce the X-Trail in Japan.

The Prime Minister has expressed her disappointment at the announcement, but would not be drawn on the impact of the UK leaving the EU.

Union bosses who met with Nissan management earlier say the Government needs to ease concern.

  • Steve Bush, the Acting National Officer at UNITE spoke to ITV News Tyne Tees:

Nissan say no jobs will be affected, but the company said they made the decision for business reasons - while admitting that uncertainty surrounding Brexit was 'not helping' companies plan for the future.

This weekend's announcement is the latest concern of what the impact of Brexit will mean for the city of Sunderland and the wider region.

Up to 30,000 jobs in Sunderland and the North East depend on Nissan.

  • Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott said she'll be asking the Government 'to intervene' following the announcement: