RACHAEL MASKELL is quite right to raise concerns about job losses at Nestle and other places in York (The Press, April 27).
A multinational like Nestle wants to protect access to wider European markets when Britain leaves, not something that the Brexiteers mentioned in their campaigns.
However, I doubt if the Nestle loss is entirely due to Brexit. Terry’s transferred production to other European countries and shut the York factory long before Brexit.
What is significant is that both local firms of Rowntree and Terry’s became part of multinationals Nestle and Kraft Foods. Such companies feel under no obligation to a local workforce or to Britain.
The French have the so called “Loi Danone” law that can prevent foreign takeovers of their firms.
Not so Britain where the Government is unconcerned when Chinese, Russian and other overseas companies snap up British business.
That undermines more than anything the EU does, but goes unnoticed.
I asked a local Conservative MP if he’d support a Loi Danone for Britain but he said this would distort the free market.
Strange, as I thought markets existed for people, not people for markets.
Much as I like to blame the EU for problems, our own governments have probably done far more damage.
I wish Rachael Maskell and local workers well in the campaign to save jobs.
Too many factory jobs have already gone from York and not been replaced.
Roger Backhouse, Upper Poppleton, York
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