Government criticised over backdated shipping rates by top company bosses
DIRECTORS from 22 shipping companies, including P&O European Ferries and DFDS Tor Line, have slammed the government, accusing it of ignorance, and a disregard for the future of jobs in the industry.
In a letter to business secretary Lord Mandelson some of the most prominent names in UK port operations said the government had been “hypocritical” in its dealing with backdated business rates.
The document also says that DFDS, which is the largest goods carrier between Scandinavia and the UK, is reconsidering its UK investment after the “retrospective imposition of a £9m tax bill through no fault of DFDS”.
Gefco, the main distributor of Peugeot and Citroen cars in the UK, has also threatened to leave because of the shipping rates.
The letter is backed by the trade union Unite.