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| P&O owner to attend summit despite row over minister's comments | P&O owner to attend summit despite row over minister's comments |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| P&O Ferries owner, DP World, will now attend the UK's investment summit on Monday, despite a row over a minister's criticism of the firm. | P&O Ferries owner, DP World, will now attend the UK's investment summit on Monday, despite a row over a minister's criticism of the firm. |
| It had been feared they might pull out from the summit - where they were expected to announce a £1bn investment - after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh criticised the ferry firm and urged consumers to boycott the company. | It had been feared they might pull out from the summit - where they were expected to announce a £1bn investment - after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh criticised the ferry firm and urged consumers to boycott the company. |
| An expansion of the firm's London Gateway port, in Essex, is likely to go ahead, with an announcement expected by some in the coming days. | An expansion of the firm's London Gateway port, in Essex, is likely to go ahead, with an announcement expected by some in the coming days. |
| Whitehall sources said on Saturday that there had been "warm engagement" between senior figures in the firm and the government since Sir Keir Starmer distanced himself from his minister's remarks. | Whitehall sources said on Saturday that there had been "warm engagement" between senior figures in the firm and the government since Sir Keir Starmer distanced himself from his minister's remarks. |
| The government is hosting the International Investment Summit, where it hopes to attract billions of pounds of investment. | The government is hosting the International Investment Summit, where it hopes to attract billions of pounds of investment. |
| A Downing Street spokesperson said the summit would "show Britain is open for business" as it looks to enable economic growth. | A Downing Street spokesperson said the summit would "show Britain is open for business" as it looks to enable economic growth. |
| Later, a government source said the prime minister had confidence in Haigh. | Later, a government source said the prime minister had confidence in Haigh. |
| A government spokesperson said: "DP World’s investment in Britain is a vote of confidence in the stability and seriousness of the government. We welcome the jobs and opportunities it will create." | |
| They added that the government was unlocking the UK's "potential and ambition" by working in partnership with businesses and investors around the world. | They added that the government was unlocking the UK's "potential and ambition" by working in partnership with businesses and investors around the world. |
| DP World has said the expansion of the London Gateway port would bring Thurrock hundreds of jobs. | DP World has said the expansion of the London Gateway port would bring Thurrock hundreds of jobs. |
| The United Arab Emirates-based company also owns the container port in Southampton. | |
| It has yet to comment publicly on the latest developments. | It has yet to comment publicly on the latest developments. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Newscast on Friday, Sir Keir said Haigh's comments were "not the view of the government". | Speaking to the BBC's Newscast on Friday, Sir Keir said Haigh's comments were "not the view of the government". |
| The prime minister is understood not to have been directly involved in talks with DP World, nor has he personally spoken to Haigh about her remarks. | The prime minister is understood not to have been directly involved in talks with DP World, nor has he personally spoken to Haigh about her remarks. |
| P&O criticism 'not view of the government', says Starmer | P&O criticism 'not view of the government', says Starmer |
| The row started after Haigh described P&O as a "rogue operator" in an interview with ITV on Wednesday, after it sacked nearly 800 seafarers in 2022 and replaced them with cheaper workers. | The row started after Haigh described P&O as a "rogue operator" in an interview with ITV on Wednesday, after it sacked nearly 800 seafarers in 2022 and replaced them with cheaper workers. |
| Asked whether she used the ferry service, she said: "I've been boycotting P&O Ferries for two-and-a-half years and I would encourage consumers to do the same." | Asked whether she used the ferry service, she said: "I've been boycotting P&O Ferries for two-and-a-half years and I would encourage consumers to do the same." |
| DP World insisted the move was needed for the survival of the ferry operator and to secure thousands of jobs. | DP World insisted the move was needed for the survival of the ferry operator and to secure thousands of jobs. |
| Haigh's comments in the interview coincided with the Department for Transport announcing new legislation aimed at protecting seafarers' jobs from so-called "fire and rehire" practices of "rogue employers". | Haigh's comments in the interview coincided with the Department for Transport announcing new legislation aimed at protecting seafarers' jobs from so-called "fire and rehire" practices of "rogue employers". |
| In that announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was quoted calling P&O Ferries' prior actions "outrageous". | In that announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was quoted calling P&O Ferries' prior actions "outrageous". |
| But senior government figures have since told the BBC that they were incensed by the specific suggestion that consumers boycott the ferry firm. | But senior government figures have since told the BBC that they were incensed by the specific suggestion that consumers boycott the ferry firm. |
| Haigh's comments also attracted criticism from the Conservatives, with shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake arguing Labour "don't understand business". | Haigh's comments also attracted criticism from the Conservatives, with shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake arguing Labour "don't understand business". |
| However, the Labour chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, Liam Byrne, defended Haigh. | However, the Labour chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, Liam Byrne, defended Haigh. |
| She had been "absolutely right to say that the behaviour of P&O, owned by DP World, in the past has been completely unacceptable", he said. | She had been "absolutely right to say that the behaviour of P&O, owned by DP World, in the past has been completely unacceptable", he said. |
| The row has exposed a tension between the new government's desire to attract business and strengthen workers' rights. | The row has exposed a tension between the new government's desire to attract business and strengthen workers' rights. |