Bombardier's decision to axe almost 500 jobs at its site in Belfast is "not a Brexit issue", Business Minister Richard Harrington said as he was blasted for saying the Government had "no role" to play in the matter.

Shares in Bombardier surged after the company ceded control of its slow-selling C Series jet programme to Airbus.

Bombardier is seeking investors for its aerospace businesses and considering a sale of some operations, according to sources, as a turnaround plan at the Canadian aircraft-maker faces pressure from potentially crippling US tariffs on its marquee jetliner.