Stephen Morgan MP has backed plans announced by Keir Starmer confirming a Labour Government will “Build it in Britain” delivering the most significant upgrade of Britain’s ports in a generation, as part of Green Prosperity Plan to support the creation of 650,000 good jobs across the country.
Visiting a port in the North East, Labour Leader Keir Starmer, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband set out how Labour’s £1.8 billion investment in Britain’s port infrastructure will help crowd billions more of private sector investment into the UK’s energy industry.
Labour’s plan for ports will help reverse fourteen years of industrial decline under the Conservatives and support domestic manufacturing across the country, benefitting coastal cities such as Portsmouth.
The pledge is funded through Labour’s Green Prosperity Plan, which includes a proper windfall tax on the oil and gas giants making record profits, to fund investment in British industries.
The visit comes as Labour confirms that its Green Prosperity Plan will help support the creation of up to 650,000 good jobs in Britain’s industrial heartlands, by crowding billions of private investment into industries such as Britain’s nuclear, steel, automotive, and construction industries.
Labour’s plan will include investments to drive local and economic growth in every region of the country, giving opportunities to plumbers, electricians, welders, and workers in every single nation and region of the country.
The last Labour government led the way on upgrading Britain’s ports, providing funding for the development of port sites to support offshore wind turbine manufacturing. Investments by the last Labour government led directly to the establishment of the Siemens Gamesa blade factory in Hull, one of only two British blade factories.
This industrial advantage has been squandered after fourteen years of the Conservatives, with recent research showing the UK could have created almost 100,000 more jobs in the wind industry if it had followed Denmark’s example in recent years and built up domestic supply chains in clean energy.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“We know in Portsmouth the vital role ports play in local economies and as critical hubs for our nation: providing over 90% of trade into the country, connecting people, providing services for maritime energy facilities, and delivering value for local communities.
“That’s why it is welcome news that ports will be at the centre of Labour’s plans to make Britain a clean energy superpower, benefiting cities such as Portsmouth and ensuring our international port flourishes.
“It is right our city’s port will play a key role in slashing energy bills, creating good jobs, boosting our national energy independence, and helping to tackle the climate crisis”
Labour Leader Keir Starmer outlined the choice facing millions of voters: continued industrial decline after 14 years of Conservative rule, or national economic renewal with Labour, saying:
“The legacy of fourteen years of Conservative rule is Britain’s industrial strength reduced to the rubble and rust of closed-down factories. They have let good jobs go overseas and done nothing about it- and every community has paid the price.
“A Labour government will reindustrialise Britain- from the biggest investment in our ports in a generation, to a British Jobs Bonus to crowd billions of investment into our industrial heartlands and coastal communities.
“The wealth of Britain was once built on a bedrock of industrial jobs that offered security and a good wage. By investing in Britain’s homegrown energy sector, we can rebuild this dream for the twenty-first century- good jobs, higher wages, and the pride that comes from good work for all.”
Through policies such as Great British Energy, the National Wealth Fund, and the mission for Clean Power by 2030, a Labour government will invest in technologies like floating offshore wind, hydrogen, nuclear, and carbon capture and storage, which will help secure Britain’s energy independence. This will create a new generation of skilled jobs in growing industries, which will offer people good wages, give confidence in their job security, and provide them with opportunities to progress. You can read more about Labour’s mission here.
