Kemi Badenoch has attacked the Governments painful handling of P&O Ferries after officials managed to stop a £1 billion investment into Britain from falling through as a result of a Ministers comments.
Last week Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told reporters that she backed a boycott of P&O Ferries, which she described as a rogue operator for sacking 800 staff in 2022.
This led to the Dubai-based cargo-logistics giant DP World, which owns P&O, saying it would pull a scheduled announcement of the £1 billion investment.
The Prime Minister was forced to say the Government does not share Ms Haighs views.
Officials spent hours hitting the phones to repair the damage and re-confirm the announcement, which was due to be a centrepiece of tomorrows International Investment Summit. A source said that there was a lot of engagement overnight – with assurances given that the Government did not support a P&O boycott.
Kemi Badenoch has attacked the Governments painful handling of P&O Ferries after officials managed to stop a £1 billion investment into Britain from falling through
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told reporters that she backed a boycott of P&O Ferries, which she described as a rogue operator
Dubai-based cargo-logistics giant DP World, which owns P&O, subsequently said it would pull a scheduled announcement of the £1 billion investment, but since announced it would go ahead after all
Yesterday afternoon DP World announced it would go ahead with the investment, after being given the clarity we need. The company also said its chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem would attend the summit.
It marks a frenzied start to the event, at which Ministers are launching a new industrial strategy that aims to hardwire stability for investors.
A No 10 source insisted Sir Keir retains confidence in his Transport Secretary after some Labour MPs privately said her position is untenable. I cant see how shell survive this, said one backbencher.
Former Business Secretary Ms Badenoch told the MoS: Labours student politics was bad in Opposition. In Government it is costing us real money and real jobs.
To watch £1 billion and thousands of jobs nearly disappear because of Louise Haighs foolish comments is painful because weve still got five years of this, and at this rate there wont be much of an economy left.
Ms Badenoch, who has just been voted into the final two for the Tory Party leadership, added: I led last years summit, which brought in £30 billion of new investment. It took a year of hard graft working closely with business.
According to Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake, Ms Haighs comments speak to Labours general attitude to the private sector.
A Government spokesman said: DP Worlds 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.
By working in partnership with businesses and investors from all over the world, this Government is unlocking the UKs potential and ambition. As our International Investment Summit will show, Britain is once again open for business.