The Port of Southampton welcomes Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Associated British Port's Port of Southampton was pleased to welcome a visit from Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Monday 17th June.

Sir Keir and Rachel were briefed on the business of the port, the UK's leading gateway for deep sea trade with the world, by ABP's CEO Henrik L. Pedersen and the Director for Southampton Alastair Welch. The briefing also highlighted ABP's ambitious plans for sustainable development both to keep Britain trading and to enable the energy transition.

Sir Keir and Rachel were also able to meet with union representatives, had a tour of the recently opened £17.5 million ABP / Solent Stevedores new rail freight terminal and then held a wide ranging question and answer session with staff from right across the Port of Southampton.

Alastair Welch, ABP's Regional Director for Southampton, said "It was a pleasure to welcome Sir Keir and Rachel to the Port of Southampton and brief them about the UK's leading gateway for deep sea trade and Europe's #1 cruise turnaround port. They were impressed by the scale of the operation and our ambitions for sustainable development. Our employees were great ambassadors for the Port and Southampton."