Port plan to go forward after row over minister’s feedback | EUROtoday

A £1bn funding in an Essex port will happen, regardless of a row over feedback made in regards to the proprietor of P&O Ferries, the enterprise secretary has stated.

It had been steered DP World may shelve the plan after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh described P&O Ferries as a “rogue operator”.

But Jonathan Reynolds instructed the BBC DP World’s plan to develop its London Gateway port “will go ahead”.

The row had threatened to overshadow a significant authorities summit beginning on Monday, at which ministers need to showcase funding into the UK.

But DP World will now attend the International Investment Summit, the place the federal government hopes to draw billions of kilos of funding.

The row began after an interview on Wednesday through which Haigh stated she had been boycotting P&O Ferries since its determination in 2022 to sack 800 employees and change them with cheaper company staff, including she would “encourage consumers to do the same”.

The firm has defended the choice as “tough but necessary,” arguing it was required to safeguard the future of the firm.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, Reynolds said his cabinet colleague had not been expressing “the government’s position”.

He added that Labour maintained that the sackings have been “wrong”, however highlighted that it had now introduced plans to tighten authorized protections for seafarers.

“It’s now the case that, as we’re in government, we can stop what happened with P&O Ferries happening again,” he added.

Speaking on Sky News, Reynolds stated the federal government had needed to “have a conversation” with DP World, following studies the funding can be shelved.

Reynold’s feedback got here after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer additionally instructed the BBC’s Newscast on Friday that the Haigh’s views weren’t these of the federal government’s.

On Saturday a authorities supply stated the prime minister had confidence in Haigh. Her division says she will likely be attending the funding summit on Monday.

Haigh’s feedback had coincided with the Department for Transport asserting new laws geared toward defending seafarers’ jobs from so-called “fire and rehire” practices of “rogue employers”.

DP World has stated the growth of the London Gateway port would convey Thurrock in Essex a whole lot of jobs.

The United Arab Emirates-based firm additionally owns the container port in Southampton.

A spokesperson for the corporate instructed the PA information company it had been “given the clarity we need” after “constructive and positive discussions with the government”.

“We look forward to participating in Monday’s International Investment Summit,” they added.