Guido Fawkes and Sky News are both reporting that Dubai-based DP World, which owns P&O Ferries, has paused plans to invest a whopping £1 billion in its London Gateway container port after being criticised by Labour cabinet ministers.
DP World’s chairman Ahmed bin Sulayem was expected to attend Labour's International Investment Summit, where it was understood that he'd announce an investment of £1 billion in the port. Reports are now suggesting that Ahmed bin Sulayem will not be attending and the investment plans have been paused.
DP World are understood to be upset at the way Labour cabinet ministers have criticised P&O regarding their treatment of staff.
Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport, recently told ITV News: "They're a rogue operator. We're cracking down on the way that they treated employees, and we want to see them mirror the standards of other operators that come in and out of Great Britain's waters."
Recent posts on Social Media from Louise Haigh won't have helped the current situation:
Two years ago the P&O Ferries scandal in Dover shocked the country.
The Conservatives had years to change the law and stop this happening again: they failed.
Yesterday I returned to Dover - to announce our plan to close the loopholes the operator exploited and Make Work Pay
-- Louise Haigh, 10/10/2024 - https://x.com/LouHaigh/status/1844293182403785196
P&O law breaking boss admits he couldn't live on the £4.87 he pays seafarers. How can he expect staff to? Appalling.
-- Louise Haigh, 07/05/2024 - https://x.com/LouHaigh/status/1787775638327177711
https://twitter.com/GuidoFawkes/status/1844717377633591504
