Stephen Morgan MP has demanded government to take responsibility for the ‘unfair’ £10m bill Portsmouth International Port (PIP) is set to foot because of Ministers’ ‘short-sightedness’.
To meet the government’s post-Brexit trading arrangements, PIP was required to quickly build a new Border Control Point (BCP) to deal with essential day-to-day running of the Port, following the end of the transition period.
However, despite the ‘eye-watering’ cost, the new facility currently sits completely empty following a late government decision that meant it was no longer immediately needed.
The Port had applied to cover the cost through the Port Infrastructure Fund, administered by the Cabinet Office, but was left to cover a £7m shortfall.
Despite appealing for further help from the government, including the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North who was a Cabinet Office Minister at the time, Portsmouth City Council, which runs the port, was left with no choice but to borrow the rest of the money.
However, just days away from completion, government delayed new checks for a fourth time and cast doubt on the future of BCPs by announcing a new digital system. It means that while delaying the checks may make practical sense in the short-term, this government’s actions has left the PIP to foot an ‘eye-watering’ bill for new infrastructure which may now no longer be needed.
In a letter to the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, this week, Mr Morgan demanded answers on whether the government will be offering compensation to ports that are out of pocket because of its decision to change the Border Operating Model.
The Portsmouth MP also urged government to clarify how trading arrangements would work, whether the port could use the facility for commercial purposes to help recoup some cash in the meantime, and if government would establish a monthly meeting with PIP to support good communication and ongoing problem solving.
Following a visit to PIP this week for a tour of the new facility with the port’s Director, the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:
“Tory Ministers’ short-sightedness has left Portsmouth International Port to foot a totally avoidable, eye-watering bill that government should take responsibility for.
“With the port being run by the council, this total farce caused by this tired government risks the funding of the local services we all rely on.
“Ministers should be ensuring the apparent freedoms of Brexit are benefiting our city and its port, not acting as a financial drain.
“I will continue to push government to own up to its failures and ensure it delivers the support our city’s port deserves.”
