New UK government appoints maritime minister

New UK Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer is making appointments after what has been described by the mainstream British press as a "landslide" election victory for Labour, when the British public overwhelmingly rejected the UK’s Conservative party after 14 years of Tory rule that saw Britain leave the European Union and living standards wane for many in the country. 

Among those appointed to lead government briefs is Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Mike Kane, who has been named Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport as of 9 July 2024. The role covers aviation and maritime. Mr Kane had previously served in the role of Shadow minister of aviation and maritime.

In reaction to the appointment, UK Chamber of Shipping chief executive Rhett Hatcher congratulated Mr Kane on his appointment.

“Having shadowed the maritime brief for most of the last Parliament, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the role and is ably placed to hit the ground running. I look forward to working together to help ensure shipping continues to be at the heart of UK prosperity," Mr Hatcher said.

“There is much to be done across government for the shipping sector. Early focus should be on a long-term decarbonisation plan, ensuring our approach to maritime borders helps, rather than hinders, trade and working with the sector to deliver the workforce we need now and in the future.”

Among other things, Mr Kane has weighed in on the controversial so-called ’fire and rehire’ practices of ferry operator P&O in the recent past, asking the former Conservative government to take more action to close loopholes in employment law that allow companies to dismiss staff and rehire on wage packages that do not meet national minimum wage requirements.

"The UK minimum wage is £11.44 an hour, but last week, here in Parliament, Peter Hebblethwaite, the chief executive officer of P&O, admitted that it paid seafarers £4.87 an hour. This has been an awful breach of trust," Mr Kane said in a Parliamentary appearance in May 2024, according to NGO They Work for You.