Starmer distances Labour from MP’s costly P&O ‘rogue operator’ claim
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Keir Starmer has potentially widened divisions within his own government by using a BBC interview to openly criticize his transport secretary, Louise Haigh.
The prime minister joined the BBC News Newscast podcast with Adam Fleming and Chris Mason, where they questioned him about Ms. Haigh's recent statements to ITV in which she proposed a boycott of P&O ferries.
The transport secretary has been talking about the public's strong displeasure towards the ferry company for its choice to lay off and then rehire 800 workers in an effort to cut costs.
In response to the situation, DP World, the parent company of P&O, decided to withdraw its planned £1 billion investment in the Thames Gateway as a form of protest before the government’s significant investors summit scheduled for Monday. Reports suggest that the company was especially upset with Ms. Haigh referring to them as a “cowboy operator.”
When asked about the minister's remarks, the prime minister publicly criticized her.
Responding to her criticism of DP World, he stated, "That's not how the government sees it."
However, he swiftly followed up with, “That was a problem that emerged several years back and raised significant worries throughout Parliament. One of our achievements has been addressing that issue, ensuring it remains a priority that they cannot overlook.”
"What’s important to me is to prioritize our internal investments, as they are crucial for creating future jobs. We need to ensure these jobs are well-paying, secure, and require specialized skills, while also being spread out across various regions of the country."
These remarks follow allegations that there was an attempt to undermine Ms. Haigh in order to protect the Downing Street team from scrutiny and to defend deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.
The initial grievance against DP World was made public through a press release focused on workers' rights, which highlighted the P&O situation. This release was approved by Downing Street and featured provocative statements from Ms. Rayner and Ms. Haigh.
A supporter of Ms. Haigh referred to the criticism directed at her as “utterly shameful,” implying that after a challenging few weeks, the prime minister’s closest advisors are “losing allies.”
In his interview, Sir Keir stated that he had accomplished everything he aimed for during his first 100 days as prime minister. However, he acknowledged that there were challenges and unexpected obstacles along the way that he would have liked to avoid.
When asked to clarify his statement, the prime minister responded, "It's about matters related to donations, personnel issues, and similar topics."
He was talking about the dismissal of his chief of staff, Sue Gray, last weekend, and bringing in Morgan McSweeney to take over her role as election coordinator. Additionally, he faced persistent inquiries regarding £107,000 in complimentary gifts, which included tickets to see Taylor Swift, football matches, and pricey glasses and clothing that he had received.
Nonetheless, he emphasized that his primary goal is to attract investment to the country in order to stimulate economic development.
"The investment is incredibly important, and I believe we aren’t discussing it enough. This funding can be seen in the creation of jobs throughout the UK—stable and reliable positions for the future," he stated.
Even though DP World canceled its £1 billion project, he maintained that the summit on Monday will be a success.
"Don't overlook the importance of the large turnout. A number of high-profile investors are attending because they want to engage in the discussions that will take place on Monday. This makes it a truly important event."
I believe that what will sway them is our attentiveness to their concerns about economic stability. Over the past couple of years, I've engaged in numerous conversations with investors, inquiring if they have the funds to invest, especially since I've noticed their investments in other parts of the globe.
"Why aren't you putting your money into the UK? The responses varied, but they ultimately pointed to a general lack of trust in the previous government due to its inconsistent policies."
DP World has chosen not to provide any comments.
