The chairman of P&O Ferries’ parent company DP World has told Sky News he went ahead with a £1bn investment in the UK despite feeling “discredited” by criticism from a cabinet minister.
P&O was widely criticised in 2022 when more than 700 seafarers were summarily fired and replaced by largely overseas workers without consultation.
Last October, the issue threatened DP World’s planned expansion of London Gateway, its deepwater port on the Thames Estuary, when the then transport secretary, Louise Haigh, described P&O as a “rogue operator”.
Her comments came as DP World was in the final stages of negotiating a £1bn investment in the port, due to be announced at the government’s investment summit.
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In response, DP World pulled the announcement and only relented following a personal intervention by the prime minister to keep his showpiece event on course.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the criticism was unexpected given the scale of his planned investment in the UK.
‘Water under the bridge’
“There was a misunderstanding. Someone, unfortunately, said something that was not what we expected.
“We were going to invest in infrastructure, a huge investment, and then we get the person in charge to basically discredit us. But it’s water under the bridge.”
Bin Sulayem confirmed that he had spoken with the prime minister and received “reassurances” that Ms Haigh was expressing a personal view. She subsequently resigned after admitting a fraud offence.
The chairman also defended P&O’s conduct, saying that having received no state support during the pandemic, the cuts were necessary to save the company.
“We had a choice. We either close down the company and 3,000 people or more lose their jobs, or we try to survive by letting 700 or so go. And we…
