Local MP Matt Western has thrown his support behind major local employer, Jaguar Land Rover, after Nigel Farage said they "deserve" to go bust. 

The Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington said the Reform UK leader's comments were "utter tosh" and "potentially deeply damaging".

In a rant on social media Mr Farage criticised the new Jaguar 'Copy Nothing' advert saying the company had gone "absolutely bonkers" with an advert including "a bunch of weirdos and no cars".

In a follow-up video he then claimed the company had experienced a drop in sales of 25 per cent in the last quarter and said: "It just goes to show folks, go woke, go broke".

His first outburst - following Jaguar's rebrand and advert - had predicted the company would go bust, with the MP for Clacton sniping "do you know what, they deserve to".

Jaguar Land Rover employs thousands of people in Warwickshire, with many of those employed by the company living within Mr Western's constituency. 

The Labour MP - who worked in the automotive sector for 24 years - argued the reported fall in sales is because existing Jaguar models are on run-out.

"What hacks me off more than nearly anything is people who talk down UK manufacturers, especially those important to my constituency," Mr Western said. 

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He added: "It is no secret to anyone that lives in Warwick and Leamington that Jaguar Land Rover is a major employer and contributes enormously to our local economy. 

"To have a politician, who I imagine has never stepped foot in our towns, make a shouty video declaring one of our major employers deserve to go bust because they made an advert which he didn't like is utterly ridiculous. 

"He is looking for a soundbite.

"We're looking to keep high quality jobs for local people. And I think we know what matters more. 

"So, unless Mr Farage wishes to visit Warwick and Leamington and tell the thousands of people who are employed by Jaguar Land Rover that he wants their employer to go bust and leave them out of a job, I suggest he sits this one out."