3,500 jobs at risk as Honda refuses to deny UK factory closure

• Honda tells CNBC it is not yet ready to confirm or deny reports.
• A U.K. lawmaker responsible for the region has claimed the move is not related to Brexit.
• The Swindon factory in the south of England employs 3,500 people.

Workers on the Honda CR-V production line at the Honda Plant in Swindon.

Tim Ireland | PA Images | Getty Images

Japanese automaker Honda looks set close its Swindon car plant, risking the loss of 3,500 jobs.

In an emailed statement to CNBC on Monday, Honda did not deny that it would close the plant.

"At this point, we are not able to make any comments regarding the speculation. We take our responsibilities to our associates very seriously and will always communicate any significant news with them first," said a spokesperson from Honda U.K.

The U.K. lawmaker responsible for the area in which the factory is based, Justin Tomlinson, took to Twitter to apparently confirm the closure.

https://twitter.com/JustinTomlinson/status/1097507582820995072

The North Swindon Conservative MP added that a task force would be set up to support employees, before adding that no job losses were expected until 2021.

https://twitter.com/JustinTomlinson/status/1097507586193137669

The Swindon factory builds the Honda Civic five-door hatchback and the CR-V crossover for sale in Europe and the U.S.

The announcement, first reported by Sky News, suggested Honda would confirm the closure on Tuesday.