Business secretary to meet with Lotus after reports it plans to scrap UK operations

Jonathan Reynolds to hold talks with carmaker which stated it has ‘no plans’ to close Norfolk factory

The business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, will hold talks with Lotus after the carmaker appeared to shelve plans to shut its UK operations.

After reports that Chinese owner Geely was planning to stop manufacturing at the Hethel plant in Norfolk, putting 1,300 jobs at risk, Lotus issued a statement saying it had “no plans” to close the factory.