Plans to force tobacco manufacturers to sell products in plain packets would have a ‘devastating’ impact on employment at Bradford's newest factory, its boss has warned.

The move could also raise the prospect of more dangerous counterfeit products hitting the streets, according to Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe.

Around half the 65 jobs at the £10 million Weidenhammer composite can factory at Buttershaw, which opened in November, depend on the German-owned company’s trade with Japanese International Tobacco, for which it exports packaging, mainly to France and Germany.

General manager Paul Barber said tobacco packaging accounted for around 40 per cent of turnover and a move to enforce plain packaging would pose a serious threat to Weidenham-mer’s operations in Bradford.

Mr Barber was also concerned that following tobacco, there could be moves to enforce plain packaging on alcohol and snack foods – also key markets for Weidenhammer.

Mr Barber said: “These proposals could have serious implications for our business as tobacco packaging is vital to our turnover. It could cost up to 50 per cent of the jobs here.

“Further down the road, if plain packaging was forced on the alcohol and snack food sectors it would also be very damaging.”

Tobacco packaging is also a major product at the Lidget Green plant of US-owned Chesapeake (formerly Fields), which prints for giants such as BAT and Philip Morris.

The Government has launched a consultation on the proposals and the issue will be debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

A non-smoker, Mr Sutcliffe, whose constituency includes the Weidenhammer plant, is backing cross-party calls for a Government rethink on plain packaging.

He said: “I’ve never smoked and supported the introduction of the smoking ban, but I believe this proposal does not make sense. Apart from a serious threat to local jobs, plain packaging could lead to a surge in illegal cigarette smoking, which is a growing problem in my constituency.