Suppliers angry as £1.5bn government support for JLR left untouched

Jaguar Land Rover has not drawn down any of a £1.5bn loan facility guaranteed by the government, with suppliers expressing anger over ministers' claims to have supported the carmaker's supply chain after a crippling hack.

- Jasper Jolly

Britain's biggest automotive employer shut down all of its wholly owned factories from 1 September for more than a month after key computer systems were compromised.

Liam Byrne, the Labour MP who chairs the business select committee, yesterday wrote to the business secretary, Peter Kyle, asking for clarification as to whether any money had reached JLR, and whether the aid was requested by the carmaker.

Suppliers to JLR have privately expressed anger about the government's messaging, which appeared to take credit for helping them. An executive at one parts maker said: "In some ways the government played a blinder with everyone thinking they bailed out JLR. They did nothing."

JLR was able to restart limited production in early October. It has since been focusing on ramping up output, with a full rate of production expected by early December.