Gareth Streeter calls on all Plymouth candidates to sign the “Freeport-Protection Pact” to ensure cross-party support for jobs and prosperity
Some 3,500 job opportunities across Plymouth and South Devon could be at risk unless politicians form a cross-party pact to protect the freeport. This is the warning from Gareth Streeter, Conservative candidate for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.
The Plymouth and South Devon Freeport represents an opportunity to create 3,500 jobs in the City and surrounding area. A range of tax and customs benefits help new enterprises set sail and the injection of opportunity is already making waves across Plymouth’s business community.
But the long-term future of the freeport - and the jobs that it will bring - is under threat by Labour’s attempts to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU in the next Parliament. The style of freeport that exists in the City would not be permitted if the UK aligns too closely with the rules, regulations or institutions of the European Union. EU officials have recently been clear that any renegotiation of the relationship will require the UK to accept “rules and responsibilities”. Despite this, Labour have pledged to form a "deeper" relationship with the EU if elected.
Gareth Streeter says:
“I grew up in Plymouth. So I know young people fear that career opportunities across the City just aren’t strong enough. Don’t get me wrong - job prospects in Plymouth are much better today than when I was a kid, but there is so much more we can do.
“The freeport represents the biggest jobs and prosperity injection into Plymouth in generations. Some issues are bigger than party. It is vital that we all work together to safeguard the freeport’s future. That’s why I am today inviting all candidates seeking to represent Plymouth to add their name to the Freeport-Protection Pact. Together, we can safeguard this great Brexit benefit and deliver the jobs and opportunity that our City deserves.”
The Freeport Protection Pact asks all candidates to commit to:
- Keeping their door open - to the leaders of the freeport and the businesses within it
- Supporting an incentivising tax regime within the freeport - to encourage new businesses
- Ruling out ever rejoining the EU customs union or single market - or participating in any arrangement with the EU that would give EU member states or EU bodies any say over the operation of the freeport
- Resisting any alignment with EU state aid rules - which would make it impossible to give the freeport the support it needs to survive and thrive
- Giving the freeport long-term stability - by ruling out entering into any shared customs jurisdiction or common rule book with the EU affecting mainland Britain in the next Parliament. Any of these would make the freeport unworkable
Shortly after Britain voted to leave the EU, a then little-known Conservative MP called Rishi Sunak identified the creation of freeports as a major Brexit benefit. While the EU does have freezones called “Freeports” these are more limited in scope, freedom and ambition than the model of freeport that operates in Plymouth and South Devon. A United Nations report had previously concluded that free trade zones “as originally conceived do not exist anymore in the European Union”. It notes that while the commission does allow the establishment of free zones within its territory “its definition of free zone is a very narrow one.”[1]
Gareth Streeter continues:
“Labour’s Luke Pollard has made no secret of his dislike of Brexit. But hopefully even he will concede that the Plymouth and South Devon freeport is a major benefit to the City – and our young people in particular.
“Keir Starmer has unwisely pledged to reopen negotiations with the European Union. While Labour’s position on this is characteristically confusing, it’s impossible to see how any renegotiated relationship won’t align Britain more closely with EU rules and institutions. This would place our freeport in peril. Now is the time to put ideology behind us, unite behind the freeport and commit to staying clear of any EU regulations, arrangements or institutions that will dent its impact. I look forward to Luke’s response.”
[1] https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/pub_2377_fulltext.pdf#page=86
