A planned investment announcement by the owner of the travel operator was nearly disrupted by criticism from her colleagues ahead of a pivotal conference, prompting the chancellor to be pressed to clarify her stance.
When P&O Ferries abruptly let off 800 seamen in 2022 and replaced them with less expensive foreign agency workers, it sparked a major scandal.
After Transport Secretary Louise Haigh dubbed P&O, its subsidiary, a “rogue operator” and demanded a boycott, it was revealed on Friday that DP World, the company’s Dubai-based owner, was considering withdrawing £1 billion in funding to its London Gateway container port.
Ms. Reeves disassociated herself from Ms. Haigh’s comments in an interview with News, stating: “I wouldn’t have any problems with getting on a P&O ferry.”
After a weekend of intense discussions, the £1 billion project was finally salvaged, and she stated it was “really important” since it would “bring good jobs, pay decent wages… and expand our capabilities to import and export around the world.”
The chancellor responded that her government had passed legislation to shield mariners against potential mass sackings when asked if she does not care where investment comes from.
