Peter Aldous highlights the importance of the UK’s maritime sector in delivering the Government’s key objectives of levelling up, building back better and decarbonisation; in particular he highlights the need for joined-up Government for a sector that crosses so many Government departments and for the rightful recognition of coastal communities in both the levelling-up fund and the community renewal fund.

Peter Aldous calls on the Government to retain the £20 universal credit uplift as we have a duty and a responsibility to protect those on the lowest incomes and the most vulnerable, and the evidence shows that a sudden reduction in income of this magnitude will hit a lot of people very hard.

Peter Aldous supports the levelling-up agenda to tackle areas of deprivation, but raises concerns that there needs to be more focus on people, that the push for new freeports could overshadow the successful enterprise zones and he questions the methodology used for targeting areas of priority.