'Going in the Right Direction': Airbus CEO Backs UK PM's Latest Brexit Offer

The CEO of Airbus's support comes hot on the heels of a day full of political drama, which saw the resignation of two high-profile UK government members. Amid recent political turmoil in Britain, the Airbus top executive toned down his criticism of Theresa May's Brexit position.
Sputnik

Tom Enders gave his backing to the UK Prime Minister May's hard-won compromise Brexit plan, which seeks to maintain Britain's close trading ties with the EU together, he said at a German Chamber of Commerce event in London on Monday.

Theresa May's government appears now to be "going in the right direction," Enders said.

"We are not shy to request that Brussels and our other home countries be similarly pragmatic & fair," the company's official Twitter account has posted.

The supportive statement comes several days after the Airbus CEO said that those sitting on the opposite sides of the Brexit negotiating table "seem to have no clue, or at least no consensus."

READ MORE: Germany’s BMW Joins Airbus’ Warning to Leave UK Amid Brexit Fears

Last week, Theresa May reached a soft Brexit compromise deal at Chequers, which faced a political backlash from some high-profile Brexiteers: Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit minister David Davis resigned in a sign of protest directed at Theresa May's Brexit plans.

Airbus, which employs some 15,000 people in the UK, warned last month amid growing uncertainty that a no-deal Brexit scenario would force it to reconsider its investment in a long-term footprint in the country, which would put its UK jobs at risk.

'Inappropriate': UK Minister Urges Gov't to Ignore BMW, Airbus Brexit Warnings

Airbus' concerns were echoed by other EU and UK-based businesses. In one recent case, Jaguar Land Rover, a car manufacturer, said that a hard Brexit would threaten its future in the UK, jeopardizing the livelihoods of up to 40,000 British-based employees.

BMW also shared Airbus's worries; the German car giant threatened to start making "contingency plans" if the company doesn't get clarity on post-Brexit arrangements by the end of summer.    

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