Industry minister Chris McDonald has declared he is "supremely confident" that Jaguar Land Rover will recover from its devastating cyber attack. However, he warned the incident should serve as a "wake-up call" for British industry.
The cyber attack struck JLR, Britain's largest carmaker, on August 31st. The company has extended its production pause until October 1st, severely impacting its extensive supply chain.
Minister visits affected supplier
McDonald made his comments during a visit to Webasto, a JLR parts supplier in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, on Tuesday. He emphasised the seriousness of the situation, stating: "We can't underestimate just how serious the attack is."
The minister expressed strong confidence in JLR's recovery prospects. "The most important thing for people to remember is that JLR will get through this," he said. "They're a large company, they are very well supported by their parent, they've reorganised themselves internally to be able to deal with this, they're making progress every single day."
Warning to British businesses
McDonald used the incident to issue a stark warning to British industry. "What I really want this to be is a wake-up call to British industry. I'm affronted by this attack on British industry. This is a serious attack on a flagship of British industry," he declared.
He urged business leaders to "presume that you are under cyber attack" and ensure their cyber security remains current. "There are people every single day, it's their job to do this, they are trying to take British companies down," he warned.
Calls for government support
The Unite union has called for a furlough scheme to support workers in JLR's supply chain. However, McDonald indicated that JLR is leading support efforts rather than requiring state intervention.
MPs from the West Midlands and Merseyside, where JLR operates plants, have urged Business Secretary Peter Kyle to consider Covid-style loans. The support would assist supply chain firms employing around 200,000 workers.
Regional and political response
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker stressed the importance of government understanding the regional impact. "At this point in time, JLR and the Government are collating information on the impact that the lockdown has had on the supply chain, businesses here in the West Midlands," he said.
Labour MP Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North), who chairs the Business and Trade select committee, described the situation as "a test for Government". He called the cyber attack "a cyber-shockwave that has brought yet another national institution to a standstill", emphasising JLR's role as "the heart of our advanced manufacturing" and "a cornerstone of both our regional and national economy".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
