Union boss warns Starmers attacks on Haigh ‘unacceptable’’ in P&O investment row

Former Trades Union Congress president Matt Wrack has fired a warning shot throughout the bow of Sir Keir Starmer after his failure to again transport secretary Louise Haigh over feedback she made in regards to the house owners of P&O Ferries.

Mr Wrack, the final secretary of the Fireplace Brigades Union who led the negotiations with Labour on the employee’s rights bundle, warned Sir Keir that criticism of Ms Haigh was “unacceptable” and he praised her for taking over “rogue employers” like P&O’s mum or dad firm DP World.

The row exploded after DP World yesterday regarded like cancelling its £1bn funding in Thames Gateway following feedback on a brand new staff’ rights bundle made by Ms Haigh and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

DP World will now attend the UK’s funding summit on Monday, regardless of the row. The growth of the agency’s London Gateway port, in Essex, is prone to go forward, with an announcement anticipated by some within the coming days.

DP World’s preliminary determination to tug out of the summit was blamed on a press launch agreed by Downing Avenue the place Ms Haigh described the ferry firm as “cowboy operators” over an notorious determination to fireside and rehire 800 workers two years in the past. The motion outraged MPs throughout events and helped form Labour’s new staff bundle.

The finger was additionally pointed at Ms Rayner for her feedback within the press launch for saying: “What we noticed with P&O Ferries was an outrageous instance of manipulation by an employer and precisely why we’re taking daring motion to enhance job safety within the UK.”

However it was later advised that it was Ms Haigh’s menace to boycott the corporate over future behaviour which triggered the funding to be withdrawn.

Sir Keir then publicly slapped down Ms Haigh in an interview on the BBC’s Newscast podcast with political editor Chris Mason and Adam Fleming. When requested in regards to the boycott remark, he mentioned: “Properly, look, that’s not the view of the federal government.”

The potential lack of the £1bn funding was an enormous embarrassment for Sir Keir as he and chancellor Rachel Reeves ready to host the main funding summit to kickstart UK development.

Nonetheless, the briefings towards Ms Haigh and assaults on her have led many to say she is getting used as “a scapegoat” and have raised issues that the minister liable for lots of Labour’s most leftwing insurance policies together with nationalising the railways might be sacked.

One ally described the briefings as “disgraceful” and advised the circle across the prime minister “are operating out of associates.”

Now Mr Wrack has waded in to defend Ms Haigh.

He instructed The Impartial: “Louise Haigh has the complete help and solidarity of the Fireplace Brigades Union in setting out clear opposition to P&O and different rogue employers sacking staff and imposing diabolical sweat store situations on workers.

“Any backlash or briefing towards Labour politicians and commerce unionists who problem or clamp down on corporations which were exploiting and abusing staff in that approach is totally unacceptable, wherever it comes from.

“It’s outrageous that DP World is looking for to derail the extension of employment rights that Labour was voted into authorities to ship.

“Rogue employers and company bullies can’t be allowed to carry a democratically elected authorities to ransom.”