Brexit: Chris Grayling ‘makes no apologies’ for giving no-deal ferry contract to company with no ships

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The transport secretary said he would “make no apologies for supporting a new British business” after coming under fire for handing out a lucrative contract to Seaborne Freight, a firm that has never previously operated a ferry service. Mr Grayling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s a new start-up business, government is supporting new British business and there is nothing wrong with that. I don’t see any problem with supporting a new British business.” Asked how the government knew the firm could run an effective service, he said: “The reality is this has been looked at very carefully by a team of civil servants who have done due diligence on the company and reached a view they can deliver.” Mr Grayling said the company was “on track to run services from April” and it would help to provide a “bit of extra capacity” in the event of a no-deal Brexit. “If Chris Grayling is serious about supporting new British business he might wish to reconsider his position on the damaging Brexit his government is pursuing and give the people the final say.” It comes as MPs are gearing up for a Commons showdown over Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the coming weeks, with the prime minister facing intense pressure to win fresh concessions from Brussels.