JAGUAR Land Rover workers were left devastated yesterday following news that the company was to sack 1,000 of them.

Their union Unite said the news was a blow to the West Midlands economy and vowed to fight to retain as many jobs as possible and give full support to the workers.

Unite warned ministers that faltering consumer confidence, along with the government's aggressive approach to diesel and its “red lines” determining the country’s trading relationship with Europe, were harming Britain’s car industry.

Figures from the retailer for the last month were down 26 per cent for Britain.

Unite's national officer Des Quinn said the announcement was “a blow for a top-class workforce” who had worked hard to turn the company’s fortunes around in recent years.
 
He said: “It should be a wake-up call for minsters and have alarm bells ringing in the highest levels of government.”
 
Unite assistant general secretary for legal services Howard Beckett said: “Our fear is that the jobs toll in the wider economy could reach 5,000.

"Losses on this scale demand concerted government action, nationally and in the region."