A FLAGSHIP car maker’s continued Brexit stalling proves North-East jobs are still in jeopardy despite Government EU confidence, it has been claimed.

MPs have demanded answers from Prime Minister Theresa May after Nissan admitted it will review the future of its Sunderland plant.

The 24 North-East Labour MPs, through the Open Britain campaign, have also called on Mrs May to make public the Government’s socalled EU sweetheart deal with Nissan and challenged her to guarantee no jobs will be lost in a hard Brexit.

Last week, Mrs May set out objectives for Britain’s EU withdrawal, saying the country will leave the single market but seek a free trade agreement to continue trading with its former partners.

However, any attempts to settle business jitters appear to have fallen flat at Nissan, where boss Carlos Ghosn confirmed he will assess the competitiveness of his firm’s near 7,000-job base once the final outcome of Brexit negotiations become clear.

Highlighting Mr Ghosn’s latest concerns, the MPs say Mrs May’s decision to pull the UK out of the EU’s single market and customs union will have a “damaging” impact on investment and manufacturing across the region.

Julie Elliott, MP for Sunderland Central and a supporter of Open Britain, said: “Theresa May has decided to follow a hard Brexit and longterm investment is at risk.

“The Government’s greatest priority in negotiations should be protecting jobs, like the many thousands employed by Nissan and its supply chain in the North-East.

“Outside the single market and customs union, jobs will be insecure as there will be new trade barriers.

“If a hard Brexit does lead to people being laid off in Sunderland and elsewhere, the Prime Minister must swallow her pride, change course, and keep Britain in the single market and customs union.”

Nissan previously hinted future production of the Qashqai, which is already made in Sunderland, could hinge on a Downing Street EU compensation package for any export tariffs and financial hardship caused.

However, following subsequent Government talks, the company revealed new Qashqai and X-Trail models will be made on Wearside, leading some critics to claim the move was a result of a sweetheart deal.

Nissan has always denied the allegations, with Colin Lawther, European senior vice-president for manufacturing, purchasing and supply chain, instead telling The Northern Echo its plans represented a “pat on the back”

for the Sunderland factory.

It is understood work on the new Qashqai could start in 2018.

Nissan also makes the Juke and electric Leaf at Sunderland and has extended its plant to accommodate work on luxury Infiniti models