Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Freeport expected to be announced for Wales after deal between UK and Welsh governments

12 May 2022 3 minute read
Holyhead Harbour. Picture by Darren Glanville (CC BY-SA 2.0). Boris Johnson right, picture by Kuhlmann /MSC (CC BY 3.0 DE).

A freeport is expected to be announced for Wales today, after months of protracted negotiations between the UK and Welsh Governments.

The most likely location for such a low or no tax port is thought to be Holyhead, with the MP Virginia Crosbie a strong advocate of the idea.

The Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, also suggested in March that Cardiff Airport could become a freeport.

A source told the Daily Post newspaper that Westminster had now addressed Welsh Government concerns over funding and employment protection within the freeport.

First Minister Mark Drakeford had also previously voiced his reservations, saying that “anybody sensible” would be “worried about displacement in freeports”.

But he added in March of last year that those issues were “resolvable” but that the “ball at the moment is in the court of the UK government”.

It was reported before the new year that the idea of setting up freeports in Wales and Scotland may have been “killed” by Treasury civil servants.

But in the House of Commons in January Boris Johnson answered Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie to say that they were still planning on bringing a freeport to Wales, with Michael Gove leading the discussions.

“Can the Prime Minister confirm to me and my Ynys Môn constituents that the UK Government are committed to at least one freeport in Wales?” Virginia Crosbie asked. “Will he update the House on how discussions are progressing with the Welsh Government?”

Boris Johnson replied that “my right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities [Michael Gove] is indeed talking to his counterparts in the Welsh Government about establishing a freeport in Wales.

“I urge our friends in the Welsh Government to agree to those plans as a matter of urgency.”

The question came after the Telegraph reported last year that the idea of setting up freeports in Wales and Scotland may have been “killed” by Treasury civil servants.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak had previously lauded the free ports as a way of “levelling up” the economy outside of London.

But according to the Telegraph, the Treasury privately feared that freeports would simply result in less tax revenue and “displace” existing investment from elsewhere.

“The Treasury has killed freeports,” a source told the newspaper.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
10 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

Has anyone tried explaining what benefits a freeport will bring to Wales?

Cynan
Cynan
2 years ago

Now imagine living in a country where you don’t need weird workarounds to stupid unnecessary beureacracy because you have great free trading agreements with your friendly neighbours.
I REALLY loathe this stupid toxic “Kingdom” for shooting itself in the foot b cause a lying aristocrat told people brown people with no English, no support network and no relevant skills were stealing their jobs and benefits

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

After trying freeports, and realising they were of no benefit, the Tory gov of David Cameron got rid of them, so what does Boris do, reinstate freeports. The UK gov is going round in circles, probably to end up inside their own a**e. The definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.

Mick Teames
Mick Teames
2 years ago

Finally the assembly administration working with the government to get stuff done! More of this please!

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Mick Teames

so any chance you can say how freeports are a benefit to Wales?

Carol James
Carol James
2 years ago
Reply to  Mick Teames

No such thing as “the assembly” Mick.

Cynan
Cynan
2 years ago
Reply to  Mick Teames

What is this assembly you are talking of?

Nobby Tart
Nobby Tart
2 years ago

“But in the House of Commons in January Boris Johnson answered Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie to say that they were still planning on bringing a freeport to Wales, with Michael Gove leading the discussions.”

Crosbie and Gove. What a Dream Team.

What can possibly go wrong!

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  Nobby Tart

If you are a scammer nothing…

Aled Rees
Aled Rees
2 years ago

Come on Mick,explain please how this will benefit Wales.

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.