MP Urges Portsmouth Port to Snag £200m Brexit Boost
Local MP Caroline Dinenage is pushing Portsmouth International Port to eye a fresh £200 million fund to gear up for Brexit’s final countdown. The Port Infrastructure Fund aims to turbocharge ports across the UK, readying them for new customs rules when the transition period slams shut on December 31, 2020.
Portsmouth: A Strategic Brexit Battleground
Portsmouth is a key gateway for freight traffic to northern France, Spain, and the Channel Islands. With the UK set to leave the Customs Union and Single Market, keeping goods flowing smoothly is critical. Port officials, in cahoots with the Local Resilience Forum, already have contingency plans to dodge chaos if there’s a no-deal Brexit.
“Businesses need to prepare now for new procedures, whether or not we secure a trade deal,” said Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
“This £200 million fund will help us deliver a fully operational and world-leading secure border in the next five years.”
More Shelling Out for Portsmouth’s Brexit Battle
Last August, Portsmouth Port snapped up part of a £30 million funding package to beef up infrastructure and calm fears over border snarls. Caroline Dinenage has also met with transport chiefs, including ex-Secretary of State Chris Grayling, to tackle local road congestion worries linked to Brexit.
Caroline stressed Portsmouth’s vital role and the plans in place:
“Portsmouth Port is crucial to Europe and the Channel Islands. I’ve heard concerns from locals about Brexit disruption, but I’ve had reassurances that contingency plans and funding are locked in.
This new investment builds on the government’s commitment to keep disruption minimal as the transition ends. I’ll encourage port officials to get their bid in for Portsmouth.”
