There is no arguing that it will take some time for the UK, and
indeed the world, to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Couple
this with Brexit, and Rishi Sunak had quite a task on his hands to
deliver a Budget to help stimulate growth in the UK economy. At the
end of his statement, however, he pulled the rabbit out of his hat:
freeports. Is this programme really the 'flagship government
programme' promised by HM Treasury? Can it really deliver on
its aims to increase the attractiveness of the UK as an
international trading nation post-Brexit and boost the UK
economy?
The idea of freeports is not new. In fact, they were pledged in
the Tory Party 2019 manifesto. What the Chancellor did announce in
his Budget was that the programme is going ahead. He also announced
the eight locations in England for them: East Midlands Airport,
Felixstowe and Harwich, the Humber region, the Liverpool City
region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames, and Teesside. The choice of
locations is
