Labour MPs have been urged to back the Government鈥檚 Brexit deal in order to save the car industry.
Brexit Minister Dominic Raab insisted the Government鈥檚 proposals, known as the Chequers plan, would protect Birmingham-based carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
And he appealed to Birmingham鈥檚 Labour MPs to 鈥済et behind鈥 the proposed deal.
Prime Minister Theresa May could come to an agreement with the EU at a summit in mid-November. But the Brexit deal must then be approved by the House of Commons, and Mrs May could require support from Labour MPs in order to win the vote.
Carmakers have warned that they need 鈥渇rictionless鈥 trade allowing them to import car parts from the EU without delays, and Mr Raab said this is what the Government鈥檚 proposals would achieve.
Referring to a 鈥渨hite paper鈥 setting out the Chequers plan, Mr Raab told the House of Commons: 鈥淛LR wants the deal that we are pursuing through our White Paper proposals.鈥
Steve McCabe, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, criticised the Government for threatening to leave the EU without any deal at all and highlighted the introduction of a three-day week at JLR鈥檚 Castle Bromwich plant as well as a planned two-week shutdown at its Solihull site.
He said: 鈥淭he Secretary of State said in his conference speech that he would rather leave with no deal than negotiate any form of deal that involved a customs union.
鈥淒id he run that past the management at Jaguar Land Rover? How does 鈥媓e think the poor workers at JLR, now enjoying a three-day week and a two-week total shutdown, will respond to such a stubborn, intransigent attitude?鈥
And Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, said: 鈥淲ill the Secretary of State rule out any deal that does not guarantee frictionless trade and access to the single market, which are vital to the future of the jewel in the crown of British manufacturing - automotive generally and Jaguar Land Rover in particular?鈥
But Mr Raab insisted: 鈥淭hat is an even stronger reason why he and other Opposition Members should get behind the Government鈥檚 approach.
鈥淭hrough the White Paper we can guarantee frictionless trade with our EU partners, while expanding our global opportunities.
鈥淭he one thing that would cause more uncertainty for businesses is the prospect, dangled by the leadership of the Labour party, of a second referendum.鈥
Meanwhile, Solihull鈥檚 former MP has claimed Brexit is to blame for the announcement that Jaguar Land Rover is to halt production at its Solihull plant for two weeks.
JLR says it is to introduce a two-week shutdown period later this month at Solihull in order to 鈥渁lign supply to reflect fluctuating demand globally as required鈥.
Baroness Lorely Burt of Solihull, the town鈥檚 former Liberal Democrat MP, said: 鈥淭his is a tragedy for the staff who work at JLR as we can see what Brexit is doing to our economy.
鈥淲e are turning slowly back into the sick man of Europe again.
鈥淭he lack of the government鈥檚 ambitions on electric cars and climate measures is holding back our world leading manufacturing sector. All this, added to Brexit is bringing shutters down on production at the jewel in the crown of 海角视频 manufacturing.鈥
