Sir Keir Starmer’s Government faced fresh embarrassment after it emerged that Dubai-based DP World plans to boycott an investment summit next week at which it was due to announce a £1billion expansion of the London Gateway container port.
Monday’s summit is meant to mark a fresh start for the PM after a rocky first 100 days since Labour won the election in July, showcasing ministers rubbing shoulders with global business leaders to drum up investment in the UK.
But it risks being overshadowed by a row over strong criticism aired this week by Labour ministers Angela Rayner and Louise Haigh against DP World’s subsidiary P&O Ferries.
They have long expressed anger about the company’s firing of 800 British seafarers in 2022. But it is understood that given the timing of their latest comments, just before the summit, DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem will not now attend Monday’s event in the City of London.
And the company has shelved the announcement of hefty new investment to build two more docking berths at London Gateway in Thurrock, Essex, which would eventually give the port bigger capacity than Felixstowe or Southampton.
DP World declined to comment after the boycott was first revealed by Sky News. There was no immediate response from the Department for Business.
It comes after Deputy Prime Minister Rayner and Transport Secretary Haigh announced new legislation to protect seafarers on Wednesday as the Government presented a bill to enhance workers’ rights more generally.
Ms Haigh described P&O as a "rogue operator" and said consumers should boycott the ferry company. Ms Rayner described the 2022 sackings as "an outrageous example of manipulation by an employer".
Asked about DP World, Sir Keir evaded the question and insisted that Monday’s “massive” summit represented a turning point for the economy.
“This is very, very good for the country, very, very good for the future of jobs,” he told reporters.
“It is just the sort of change that we need to see.”
Responding to the news, Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “On the eve of this much vaunted inward investment event, this is a body blow for the Government and shows that Labour Cabinet Ministers have never been in business, don’t understand business and don’t know how to talk to business. They just haven’t got a clue.
“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.”
