YP Comment: Is Polish jobs bombshell the '˜tip of the iceberg' for Britain's Brexit future?

From exporting chocolate to exporting employment, the news that more than 150 jobs are to be lost in York and Halifax as production of Nestlé's Blue Riband chocolate bar is moved to Poland leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
More than 150 jobs are to be lost in York and Halifax as production of Nestlés Blue Riband chocolate bar is moved to Poland.More than 150 jobs are to be lost in York and Halifax as production of Nestlés Blue Riband chocolate bar is moved to Poland.
More than 150 jobs are to be lost in York and Halifax as production of Nestlés Blue Riband chocolate bar is moved to Poland.

The company insists the announcement has nothing to do with the Brexit process and the changes would have been necessary irrespective of the country’s decision in last year’s referendum. Instead it blames changing consumer habits and the need to “operate more efficiently”.

However, unions fear the move may be “the tip of the Brexit iceberg”. The unfortunate truth is companies moving jobs abroad to take advantage of cheaper labour is a trend that started long before the term Brexit was invented and is a problem that is not easily solved.

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In 2011, Cadbury shut a factory near Bristol to move production to Poland at a cost of 400 jobs in the UK. And in May last year, HSBC announced it was cutting 600 IT jobs in Sheffield and Leeds and transferring the roles to India, China and Poland. To add insult to injury, workers being made redundant were told to train up their replacements.

This trend can hardly be blamed on Brexit and the repeated loss of such jobs overseas is actually likely to have been a motivating factor for many Leave voters.

But there are growing warning signs that the process of leaving the EU may actually exacerbate rather than solve the problem of companies moving jobs abroad. Last week, Burberry announced its building of a new facility employing 1,000 people in Leeds remains on hold as it waits to see how export tariffs will work once the UK leaves the single market – raising fears the firm and others like it may soon prefer a base inside the EU.

Politicians have been promising that Brexit is the path to a brighter national future. But turning sweet words into reality will not be easy.

Food for thought - Clear Brexit policy is required

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The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, with exports hitting a record £20bn last year. This is proof not only of just how valuable our farmers and producers are, but also affirmation of their unrivalled reputation when it comes to quality.

Agricultural businesses and food producers help drive our economy at the same time as being guardians of the nation’s countryside. However, with Britain due to leave the Common Agricultural Policy, a new system of farm subsidies will have to be put in place by Defra and there are serious concerns about what will happen to British food production as we head for the EU exit.

The British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) goes as far as saying the future of the country’s food security is at risk unless the Government changes its approach to farming policies post-Brexit.

Its president, Professor Liam Sinclair said that without giving producers the support they need in order to survive and successfully develop their businesses outside the European Union, we risk being left with fewer animals, a changed landscape and shattered rural economies. Such warnings ought to focus the minds of policymakers ahead of the looming EU talks.

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The Brexit-supporting Environment Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, has kept a decidedly low profile since taking office. Whether she remains in the post following the general election remains to be seen. Whoever it is they will need to step up to the plate because our hardworking farmers and producers deserve a vociferous champion.

Root’s return - Cricket captain inspires pupils

He is the latest in a proud line of Yorkshire cricketers to be given the honour of captaining his country, so it is heartening to see one of the nation’s top sportsmen has not forgotten his roots.

Joe Root returned to his former primary school in Sheffield yesterday, spending several hours with pupils in an attempt to inspire a new generation of players as part of National Cricket Week.

Lucky children at Dore Primary had the chance to take part in a batting masterclass with Root as he passed on the tips that have made him one of the best players in the world.

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We will not know for years yet whether any of the pupils Root spoke to yesterday will be able to follow in his footsteps of incredible sporting success, but the young people he met are sure to have learnt much from the attitude and approach to sport and life that makes him a wonderful ambassador for both the game as a whole and the county of Yorkshire he so proudly represents when not on international duty.