A British car firm’s talks with GM drew fire.

British union leaders and opposition parties voiced strong objections to moves by BL PLC, Britain’s state-owned auto manufacturer, to sell its commercial vehicle operations to General Motors. British government officials have said that talks between the two sides were at an advanced stage. The opposition was based in part on the fact that BL’s military vehicle operations would be sold to a foreign firm. BL formerly was known as British Leyland.