A LEADING member of Swindon’s business community has backed claims that remaining in the EU’s Customs Union would be more beneficial for the UK’s automotive sector.

Ian Larrard, Business West director in Swindon, has given his support to Ian Howells, the senior vice-president of Honda Europe, who has warned of the impact leaving the customs union would have on the company’s Swindon plant.

Speaking at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ summit in London yesterday, Mr Howells said: “We have deliveries of two million components every day, arriving on 350 lorries.

“We have just one hour of supply of parts at the side of the line, and half a day in local warehouses.

“From that description of the flow of goods you can see how new customs rules would harm our ability to produce cars.”

He said that the company also had concerns about the Government’s ability to manage an upgrade to computer systems that track imports and exports of goods.

Following Mr Howell’s remarks, Mr Larrard said: “Honda is one of Swindon’s largest employers and has a long and successful history within the town.

“It is extremely rare for Japanese companies to make public statements concerning a foreign government, so we should take this speech seriously. It is an indication of the issue’s importance to the firm and of their underlying concern about the current direction of travel of Brexit negotiations.

“The request for the UK to remain in the Customs Union reflects a worry that leaving it will create additional paperwork and compliance issues that would hurt Honda’s competitiveness and ability to operate.”

Business West is the main business leadership organisation covering Swindon and Wiltshire.