Jaguar Land Rover to cut 500 UK jobs – what happened to Starmer’s promise?

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to cut 500 management jobs in the UK through a voluntary redundancy programme, raising questions about recent promises to protect workers from trade troubles.

Just weeks ago, both JLR and government officials were talking up a new UK-US trade deal that was supposed to keep jobs safe. In fact, Prime Minister Keir Starmer even visited JLR staff in April, promising support to protect their roles. JLR also said the deal would “shield” its workforce from rising US tariffs.

But now, those promises look shaky.

JLR says the job cuts – about 1.5% of its workforce – are a cost-saving move as sales drop and uncertainty over US tariffs continues. The company plans to handle this through voluntary redundancy, mainly affecting management roles.

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Earlier this year, JLR paused exports to the US after tariffs jumped to 25%. While it has since resumed shipments at a lower 10% tariff, that only applies to UK-made cars, and exports are capped at 100,000 vehicles per year. Any extra cars face higher fees.

These trade limits, combined with Jaguar halting new car production as it prepares to relaunch as a fully electric brand, have hit sales hard – down 15% between April and June, with just over 94,000 cars sold during that time.

The timing makes it even tougher: JLR announced the cuts on the same day UK unemployment hit a four-year high, adding to doubts about whether trade deals and political promises really protect workers.

JLR says offering voluntary redundancy is normal business, but for many workers and consumers, the reassurances from politicians and the company just don’t ring true anymore.

So, what does this mean for you as a car buyer? Fewer staff and tighter budgets could lead to longer wait times for new cars or servicing. And with older Jaguar models being phased out, your options might be more limited if you’re hoping to buy one soon – or it could even affect the resale value of certain models.

Plus, with export limits and tariffs still in place, prices might creep up, especially for luxury cars. So, whether you’re shopping for a new Range Rover or just keeping an eye on the UK car market, these job cuts and trade uncertainties could eventually hit your wallet.

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