A minister was left squirming on the BBC this morning when he contradicted his cupboard colleague’s current assault on P&O Ferries.
The corporate sacked almost 800 staff with out discover, through Zoom, in 2022, sparking main backlash from Labour – then in opposition – on the time.
The incident was revived this week after the transport secretary Louise Haigh described the agency as a “rogue operator”, and claimed: “I’ve been boycotting P&O Ferries for 2 and a half years and I’d encourage shoppers to do the identical.”
Her remarks allegedly sparked fears dad or mum firm DP World would pull out of the federal government’s worldwide funding summit in London on Monday, and drop a £1bn infrastructure venture on the London Gateway.
In keeping with experiences on Saturday, the corporate would nonetheless be attending – though enterprise secretary Jonathan Reynolds nonetheless appeared eager to row again from Haigh’s remarks on Sunday.
He informed BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: “We’ve all the time mentioned and we consider that what occurred with P&O Ferries was flawed. I consider even the Conservative authorities on the time was clear they believed it was flawed.”
He mentioned what the corporate did again in 2022 was going to be unlawful in Labour’s new Employment Rights Invoice.
Nevertheless, Reynolds added: “It’s not the federal government’s place to boycott them – however we’re clear we don’t want this nation competing on ‘fireplace and rehire’.”
Requested for his tackle Haigh’s declare that P&O Ferries are a “rogue operator”, he mentioned: “That’s not the federal government’s place.”
Kuenssberg mentioned: “The transport secretary was not talking for the federal government however you’re talking for the federal government?”
She additionally famous that Labour promised to deliver “readability” and “competence” with a “clear message always notably to enterprise”.
However, she continued: “Right here we’ve got in a matter of days the transport secretary giving one place, the enterprise secretary then saying that’s not the place.
“It doesn’t look superb, does it? It appears messy!”
Reynolds simply mentioned the P&O Ferries will nonetheless be investing within the UK, despite the fact that “little issues like this do crop up”.
“It’s not little, it’s a billion kilos on the desk right here!” Kuenssberg lower in.
He replied: “I simply suppose it’s important to take that step again and say, it is a authorities that’s enhancing individuals’s safety within the office, throughout the board, and attracting the important thing flagship funding essential for taking the economic system ahead.”
Kuenssberg mentioned Labour used to name on the final authorities to droop contracts with P&O, including: “Is it simply the case that now you’re in authorities you want the money, so that you’ll do a deal?”
He mentioned now Labour are in authorities, they will cease a repeat efficiency from P&O.
The spat confirmed a pressure rising between the brand new authorities’s plan to be “pro-business” and develop the economic system, and its efforts to strengthen staff’ rights.