Keir Starmer‘s big UK investment summit has suffered a blow after a £1billion deal was seemingly pulled over ministers criticising P&O Ferries.
The event on Monday is intended to showcase the attractions of Britain to international business, with hundreds of senior figures attending.
However, ports and logistics giant DP World has reportedly dropped a major announcement about its London Gateway container port.
It is the parent company of P&O Ferries, which previously sparked controversy by sacking 800 British seafarers and replacing them with cheaper, largely foreign workers – arguing the move was the only way to prevent the firm collapsing.
Trumpeting new legislation to protect seafarers earlier this week, a press release from Angela Rayner and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh described the action by P&O Ferries as ‘outrageous’ and a ‘national scandal’.
Although Labour frontbenchers have been outspoken on the issue before, the timing caused Dubai-based DP World to rethink its plans, according to Sky News.
Keir Starmer’s big UK investment summit has suffered a blow after a £1billion deal was seemingly pulled over ministers criticising P&O Ferries (file picture)
Trumpeting new legislation to protect seafarers earlier this week, a press release from Angela Rayner (right) and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh (left) described the action by P&O Ferries as ‘outrageous’ and a ‘national scandal’
Sir Keir dodged questions on the row this afternoon, merely insisting: ‘We’ve got a massive investment summit coming up Monday… this is very very good for the country.’
P&O Ferries is separate from P&O Cruises, which is owned by a different company.
Shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said DP World’s decision was ‘a body blow for the Government’ that shows ministers ‘don’t understand business and don’t know how to talk to business’.
He said: ‘Just 100 days in, new investment should be rolling in, not being scared off because of anti-business statements or worries about the impact of Labour’s employment and tax policies.’
Meanwhile, in another embarrassing episode the Government has referred itself to the data protection watchdog after accidentally sharing the email address of one of the world’s richest men.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) apologised for the ‘human error’ after officials sent round a message about the event next week which displayed the contact details of Bernard Arnault and other business leaders.
Mr Arnault, a French tycoon who founded and owns the luxury goods firm LVMH, has an estimated net worth of £139billion and is currently ranked as the world’s fifth richest person by Forbes.
He is one of around 300 industry leaders invited to attend the Government’s International Investment Summit in London next Monday, where ministers will pitch the UK as a more attractive destination for business.
The DBT said the blunder, first reported by The Sun newspaper, had been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
A spokesman said: ‘This was caused by an administrative human error, and we apologise to those affected.
‘We take data protection very seriously, and we have referred this issue to the Information Commissioner’s Office.’
Sir Keir dodged questions on the row this afternoon, merely insisting: ‘We’ve got a massive investment summit coming up Monday… this is very very good for the country.’
Meanwhile, in another embarrassing episode the Government has referred itself to the data protection watchdog after accidentally sharing the email address of Bernard Arnault (pictured), one of the world’s richest men
Poppy Gustafsson, who co-founded Darktrace and led it onto London’s stock market, has been made the government’s trade minister and given a seat in the House of Lords
Some concerns were raised about the summit previously when it emerged Elon Musk had not been invited following a spat with Sir Keir about the summer riots.
One other potential problem was solved yesterday when a high-profile female cybersecurity tycoon was named Sir Keir‘s new investment minister.
Poppy Gustafsson, who co-founded Darktrace and led it onto London‘s stock market, was given the job and a seat in the House of Lords.
She will be tasked with the job of promoting the UK as a place to invest and do business.
The role had been vacant after the leading candidate to take the job, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, withdrew from the process to focus on his geopolitical consulting firm.
