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The owner of P&O Ferries is set to attend a major investment summit after Sir Keir Starmer distanced himself from the minister’s comments in which he called the company a “cowboy operator”.
DP World is understood to be attending Monday’s meeting despite controversy over Louise Haig’s comments about the company, as a result of efforts by Downing Street to smooth relations.
The Dubai-based ferry company’s parent company is expected to announce a £1bn investment in the UK at the Government’s International Investment Summit, seen as key to the Government’s plans to attract investment to the country. are.
However, Sky News reported that DP World withdrew from the event and reviewed its investment plans after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Ryder and Transport Secretary Hague repeatedly criticized P&O Ferries.
The company came under intense scrutiny from politicians from both major parties in March 2022 when it suddenly made 800 British seafarers redundant and replaced them with cheaper staff, mainly from overseas, citing a need to avoid bankruptcy. Ta.
P&O Ferries was heavily criticized by MPs from all parties after abruptly sacking 800 seafarers in March 2022 (PA archive)
On Wednesday, Mr Reiner and Mr Hague introduced legislation to prevent similar practices, with the Transport Secretary describing P&O Ferries as a “cowboy operator” and Mr Reiner calling the incident “an example of outrageous manipulation by employers”. ”.
In an interview with ITV, Ms Hague went further: “I have boycotted P&O Ferries for two and a half years and I encourage consumers to do the same.”
However, Sir Keir distanced himself from the comments in an interview on the BBC News Newscast podcast. Asked if Mr Hague was right to call the company a “rogue operator” and call for a boycott, Sir Keir said: “Well, that’s not the government’s view.”
He added: “That was exactly the problem. I think this problem that came up a few years ago is now a cause for great concern across Congress. One of the things we’ve done is change that. So they can’t forget that it’s important.
“But what’s important to me is to continue to focus on inward investment, because… it’s the jobs of the future that matter, well-paid, secure, skilled jobs in different parts of the country. is.”
Sir Keir claimed in an interview that he had achieved everything he had hoped for in his first 100 days as Prime Minister, but added: “There have been some bumps and crosswinds along the way, but I think we should have avoided them.” I admitted it. Pushed by. ”
Sir Keir Starmer appears on BBC Newscast (PA Media)
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed on Saturday that DP World will attend the summit.
Meanwhile, Labor MP Liam Byrne, chairman of the House of Commons commerce and industry committee, said Mr Hague was “absolutely right” to criticize P&O’s past actions, but that new legislation would regulate how the company was treated. He tried to downplay the uproar. That staff.
Mr Byrne told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the ferry company’s past treatment of staff was “the kind of behavior that has no place in this country”.
But he added that the government’s Employment Rights Bill would provide a “very clear framework” for how companies treat workers and would “hurt” companies like P&O.
“I think there’s a bit of a rift between the past and the future. Lou Haig was absolutely right to say that the past conduct of P&O, which is owned by DP World, was completely unacceptable.”
The government will use Monday’s high-profile investment summit as an opportunity to champion companies that have already committed billions of pounds to the UK and persuade those considering new deals.
“I think the message coming out of the summit is very clear that if we want to come here and do business, P&O can’t just do business as usual,” Byrne said. Ta.
“And I think the Prime Minister was expressing that confidence in how DP World will run its stores.”
