P&O Ferries owner to attend UK investment summit despite scathing criticism from Louise Haigh

The boss of the company that owns P&O Ferries will attend a UK investment summit despite scathing criticism from the Transport Secretary, which included calls for a boycott of the shipping firm.

Sky News understands Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chief executive of Dubai-based DP World, will join the government’s Investment Summit on Monday.

It comes after reports of remarks by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh put a £1 billion investment at risk in the UK from DP World.

Monday’s event aims to showcase Britain’s attractiveness to investors and will be attended by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

DP World’s investment in the port came under review following criticism of its subsidiary by Ms Haigh and Deputy First Minister Angela Rayner. P&O Ferries.

In March 2022, P&O Ferries caused a huge controversy laying off 800 British sailors and replacing them with cheaper, largely foreign workers, a move he said was necessary to prevent the company from collapsing.

Announcing new legislation to protect seafarers on Wednesday, Ms Haigh described P&O Ferries as a “rogue operator” and said consumers should boycott the company.

In a press release issued with Ms. Rayner, Mrs. Haigh said P&O Ferries’ actions were “a national scandal” and Ms. Rayner described it as “an outrageous example of manipulation by an employer”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said Ms Haigh’s call for a boycott of the ferry company was “not the government’s view”.

Speaking to the BBC Newscast about the situation, he said: “Well, look, I think we’ll work it out.

“But … I think if you look at the last three or four weeks, you’ve seen over £40bn of investment.”

Read more business news:
Boeing to cut 17,000 jobs
Government port giant’s investment management ‘signals rough seas ahead’
UK economy returns to growth

In a press release issued with Ms. Rayner, Mrs. Haigh said P&O’s actions were “a national scandal” and Ms. Rayner described it as “an outrageous example of manipulation by an employer”.

Labor MP Liam Byrne has defended Ms Haigh, saying she was “absolutely right” to express her view that the behavior of P&O Ferries was “completely unacceptable”.

Byrne, who is also the chairman of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, said the ferry company’s past treatment of its workers was “the kind of behavior we cannot have in this country”.

But he added that the government’s employment rights law will provide a “very clear framework” for how companies can treat workers, which would “sting” companies like P&O Ferries.

Asked about any move on the £1bn investment, a senior government source told Sky News: “It is up to companies to announce their investments, but the cozy engagement continues. We look forward to a successful summit, to show that with this Labor government, Britain is open for business.”

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “Investors will come to our summit on Monday because they have renewed confidence in Britain, thanks to the stability and seriousness this Labor government is bringing.”

P&O Ferries, which is owned by a separate company to P&O Cruises, operates routes across the Channel, the North Sea and from Great Britain to the island of Ireland.

(c) Sky News 2024: P&O Ferries owner to attend UK investment summit despite scathing criticism from Louise Haigh