At left: Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Transport with responsibility for Ports, welcomes the UK Major Ports Group manifesto with Associated British Ports Chief Executive James Cooper at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham on 29th September.

United Kingdom Major Ports Group (UKMPG) launched a significant new manifesto – Ports4Prosperity – for the UK ports industry at the Party Conferences in Manchester and Birmingham held towards the end of September.

Representing 41 of the UK’s major ports, UKMPG has called on the Government to work with the ports sector to support UK industry.

UK ports play a huge role in delivering national prosperity: 95% of the nation’s trade in goods is moved by sea; UK ports support 400,000 jobs and contribute over £21 billion to the economy every year.