BASILDON and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe told MPs Ford’s reputation had been blemished by its failure to fulfil its moral duty to pay former employees their full pensions.

The car giant formed its global parts manufacturer Visteon in to a new company in 2000, but it was “set up to fail” in the UK and collapsed in 2009, Mr Metcalfe said.

The result was reduced pensions for Ford workers, who were advised by Ford to switch to Visteon.