Ex Labour MP appointed inaugural Thames Freeport Chair

Former Labour MP Ruth Kelly is to be the inaugural Chair of Thames Freeport, starting immediately. #

Ms Kelly served as MP for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010. During this period, she served as Secretary of State for Transport, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Secretary of State for Education and Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities, as well as holding ministerial roles in HM Treasury.

Since leaving Parliament, she has held roles at HSBC Global Asset Management and St Mary’s University. As Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at St Mary’s, she spearheaded the delivery of a transformational vision, ‘Vision 2025: St Mary’s plan for the future’.

Rt Hon Ruth Kelly, Chair of Thames Freeport, commented: “I’m pleased to lead a coalition of public sector partners and businesses at the forefront of their industries during a period of seismic change. The Freeport will create an irresistible investment platform around our world-class ports – London Gateway and Tilbury – that will deliver a step-change in terminal capacity, supply chain resilience and manufacturing capability for UK plc.

“The Freeport will drive fresh large-scale inward investment, while driving regeneration in areas of need across our region and creating a centre of excellence for the country as we electrify, automate and digitise our future.”

Thames Freeport is a digitally linked economic zone connecting Ford’s Dagenham engine plant (London’s largest manufacturing site), and the global ports at London Gateway and Tilbury.

20% of the UK’s most deprived communities are in London and the South East.

No location can match Thames Freeport for access to rail, road, river and international maritime routes.

As part of The Budget on Wednesday 27 October, the Thames Freeport partners welcomed the announcement that the freeport will begin operations from November.