Freeport no economic silver bullet, debate told

THE tax-busting Plymouth and South Devon Freeport is not a “silver bullet” for the area’s economy, a number of parliamentary candidates have declared at a business hustings in the city.

The much flagged private/public partnership, which offers tax breaks for companies and is claimed could bring 3,500 jobs to the area, is not something that has got voters excited about, either, it appears.

Speaking at an event at the University of Plymouth, organised by Devon and Plymouth Chamber of

Commerce and Radio Exe, Julian Brazil, South West Devon parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats, said he had knocked on around a thousand doors during his campaign and not one person mentioned the freeport.

He said that, while he supported the freeport for the inward investment it might bring to Plymouth and the South Hams, he believes freeports are “no use whatsoever” because they displace businesses from one area to another.

The designation has brought £25 million from the Government and £20 million from Devon County Council. South Hams District Council is expected to put in around £3.5 million. The partnership also includes Plymouth City Council, a number of local businesses and the universities of Plymouth and Exeter.

Mr Brazil, who is leader of South Hams District Council, said: “The idea that the freeports are a silver bullet that are going to solve problems, promote growth and improve the economic output of this country is tosh.”

Other candidates at the event – Stephen Horner (Reform UK, who is standing in South West Devon); Daniel Steel (Labour, South Devon); and Gareth Streeter (Conservative, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport), support the freeport.

Mr Horner said: “I am not against it. If there is anything to make the South West stronger economically, then I am going to go for it.”

Mr Steel said the freeport aligned with plans to create training and jobs in the marine and green energy/ environmental sectors. He said the Labour-led Plymouth City Council is investing in future skills training and the freeport is integral to this.

Mr Streeter has called on all Plymouth candidates to sign his ‘Freeport Protection Pact’. He claimed Labour’s Luke Pollard did not support the pact. He added that voters were worried about jobs and the freeport was a means to get jobs. A show of hands in the audience showed about twothirds backed a freeport for the area.