Burberry may lose royal warrants

Burberry, the quintessential British clothing brand that is now manufacturing most of its goods in other countries, could lose its royal warrants as a row intensifies over the closure of its south Wales factory and the loss of 300 jobs. Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, is writing to the Lord Chancellor to demand that MPs have a say in which firms get the warrant. This is currently determined by the Queen and the Prince of Wales. Bryant is also calling for a Constitutional Affairs Select Committee investigation into the same issue.

Bryant wants to see Burberry stripped of its status if it closes its Treorchy factory in the Rhondda Valley. Last Friday marked the end of the three-month consultation period Burberry launched to determine whether there was an alternative to closing the factory and moving to China. Sources close to the company say there is now no going back on its decision. The upmarket luxury brand maintains that it has no choice but to move to a cheaper location and that it still has a manufacturing presence in the UK.