PORT and logistics firm DP World has paused a £1 billion investment in Britain after ministers criticised practices at its subsidiary P&O Ferries, Sky News reported, in a blow to the government before an investment summit.

Prime minister Keir Starmer is hoping to use Monday’s (14) international investment summit to pitch his goals of generating growth and providing stability that companies need to invest.

But his government’s “pro-business, pro-worker” initiative faces a stern test after criticism of P&O Ferries by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and transport minister Louise Haigh appeared to disrupt preparations for the summit.

Dubai-based DP World is reviewing the planned investment that had been due to be a major plank of Monday’s summit announcements, Sky News and Bloomberg reported. The reports also said DP World’s chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, had pulled out of his planned attendance at the summit.

DP World declined to comment on the reports.

In 2022, Britain’s P&O Ferries made 800 staff redundant with immediate effect and suspended crossings for the next few days, prompting a backlash from politicians and unions who criticised plans to hire cheaper agency workers instead.

P&O Ferries at the time said it had to make swift and significant changes because the business was not sustainable otherwise.

This week, Rayner and Haigh announced new protections for seafarers, and ended what they said was a loophole used by P&O Ferries. Rayner said the government was on a mission “so no employer can abuse the system”, while Haigh said the mass sackings were a “national scandal" Read More….