Over 2 million jobs at companies receiving EU foreign investment

Over two million jobs in the UK are with companies that receive investment from the EU, striking new figures have revealed today.

According to the Office for National Statistics, a total of four million UK employees work for companies that benefit from foreign direct investment (FDI). Two million of these, or over half, are with companies that received investment from the EU.

The biggest EU sources of investment for UK companies were the Netherlands (632,000 jobs), Luxembourg (321,000 jobs), France (319,000 jobs), and Germany (271,000 jobs).

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Jo Swinson said:

"Therese May's extreme approach to Brexit is showing callous disregard for the millions of people whose jobs are linked to EU investment.

"These stark figures should serve as a wake-up call.

"It's time for all MPs who want to defend UK jobs and prosperity to work together and protect Britain's place in the single market and customs union.

"We must not allow the Conservatives to drag our country towards an extreme, job-destroying Brexit that would damage opportunities for generations to come.

"The Liberal Democrats will keep fighting to give the British people the final say on the deal, with a chance to reject it and stay in the EU."

Anita Day PPC for Grantham and Stamford commented

"This shows that Brexit will affect British people directly. Two million jobs and the livelihoods of millions of British families will be at risk if we no longer receive these EU investments.

"Neither the Conservatives or Labour can claim to be putting working people first whilst they pursue their agenda of a hard Brexit that will only benefit the wealthy."

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics have shown that over 2 million employees work for businesses in receipt of FDI from the European Union (link)