The giant port and logistics firm, DP World has revealed a £1 billion plan to expand the London Gateway Port container terminal at the UK Government’s International Investment Summit held today.
The major announcement for the port, 25 miles downriver of central London, follows reports that the owner of P&O Ferries (see new laws story) was set to shelve the infrastructure project over calls from a government minister to boycott its subsidiary.
It was on Wednesday when Transport Secretary Louise Haigh described P&O Ferries as a “cowboy operator”.
The criticism of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based DP World, was aimed at the company’s actions in March 2022, when without notice it sacked 800 British seafarers (including on the Irish Sea). These seafarers were replaced with cheaper, mainly overseas staff, as the company cited, it was necessary to stave off bankruptcy.
Ms Haigh, when interviewed by ITV, went further, saying, “I’ve been boycotting P&O Ferries for two-and-a-half years, and I encourage consumers to do the same.”
In response to the cabinet minister, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, later said calls for a boycott of the ferry company were “not the view of the government." His comment followed reports that DP World would pull out of the summit.
More from The Independent on the ferry operator's related row.
