Around 50,000 manufacturing apprenticeships in the UK are dependent on exports to the European Union and could be put at risk if the UK were to vote to leave the European Union, the Labour In for Britain campaign warns today.
In a speech at Airbus in Bristol today Alan Johnson set out Labour’s case for Britain in Europe. He argued that Britain’s EU membership supports jobs and growth, including in key sectors such as manufacturing and high-tech industry.
Alan Johnson said:
“For UK manufacturing jobs, our EU membership is absolutely critical. Two thirds of British jobs in manufacturing are dependent on demand from Europe.
“That’s two thirds of our manufacturing base reliant on that single market access and Britain’s membership of the EU.
“That’s over one and a half million manufacturing jobs here in Britain.
“And turning specifically to apprentices in the manufacturing industry, and I’m pleased to see some of you here today, around 50,000 apprentices work today in manufacturing apprenticeships that depend on trade linked to our EU membership.
“That’s 50,000 apprenticeships which depend on our EU membership and leaving the EU could put those at risk.
“For each one of those apprentices, gaining skills, earning a good wage and working towards a career, we can’t let them down, turn our back on the world and cut British manufacturing and industry off from their largest export market. “