Today I’ve written to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, calling for urgent Government support for supply chain businesses affected by the crippling cyber-attack on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
Production has been at a standstill since 1st September and could remain halted until at least 24th September. This isn’t just a crisis for JLR, one of our most iconic automotive manufacturers, it’s a crisis for the entire West Midlands, with over 100,000 jobs tied up in the supply chain now at risk.
In my letter, I’ve urged the Government to 
• They must use their convening power to work with UK banks to set up a short-term, fully repayable loan scheme for affected suppliers
• Push insurers to fast-track claims so businesses aren’t left waiting for help they urgently need just as we saw during the COVID Pandemic.
• And take immediate steps to coordinate across departments to protect one of the UK’s most critical industries.
JLR employs over 36,000 people directly, tens of thousands more indirectly through the supply chain and contributes an estimated £18 billion to UK GDP. We cannot afford to simply stand by.
These aren’t just numbers these are livelihoods that depend on a thriving automotive sector.
The Government must step up now to prevent long-term damage to our economy and our region.
