Back to Labourland, where there’s more trouble afoot. It emerged today that some rather careless comments made by a Cabinet Minister have cost the government an, er, one billion-pound investment deal. Ouch.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh delivered some stinging remarks this week about P&O Ferries, after it emerged that the company had let go hundreds of agency staff it hired in a cost-cutting bid following mass lay-offs two years ago. But Haigh’s ill-advised commentary has sparked tensions between the government and DP World, of which P&O Ferries is a subsidiary – with the organisation now planning to boycott an investment summit next week. More than that, DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was due to announce a £1bn investment plan for the London Gateway container port – which now, thanks to the row, will not take place. What a mess.
It is thought that Haigh’s ITV interview earlier in the week enraged business bosses, after the Transport Secretary blasted P&O Ferries as being a ‘rogue operator’ – and even urged viewers to boycott the company. Crikey. Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner did her government no favours either, after she described the initial 2022 sackings as ‘an outrageous example of manipulation by an employer’. Don’t hold back, Ange!
The offence taken by DP World led to the company’s subsequent decision to pull out of Sir Keir Starmer’s investment summit next week – delivering yet another blow to the beleaguered Prime Minister. What with the ongoing freebie fiasco, frockgate and cronyism rows, falling out with an international investor is hardly what Starmer needs right now. Indeed, No. 10 has tried to cosy up to DP World since, with a spokesperson remarking on the matter that: ‘Louise Haigh’s comments were her own personal view and don’t represent the view of the government.’ They went on, gushing:
We welcome P&O Ferries commitment to comply with our new seafarer’s legislation. We continue to work closely with DP World which has already delivered significant investment in the London Gateway and Southampton ports, to help deliver for the UK economy. Next week’s International Investment Summit will bring together hundreds of global firms to show Britain is open for business.
Not if Haigh has anything to do with it, eh?
The summit was seen by Downing Street as a reset for Sir Keir’s scandal-ridden start to his premiership – but Haigh’s comments have threatened to make the big meet, like much of the rest of Starmer’s reign thus far, fall flat. Oh dear…
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