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https://twitter.com/karenneemcnally/status/1607723227434090496

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Jun 5

Norfolk villagers to lose their homes under mass CPOs, what did I tell you?
South Norfolk, along with other parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, is part of a designated and deregulated investment zone, a type of SEZ under the UK government’s flagship program.
Norfolk and Suffolk were among 38 areas in England invited to form investment zones to “supercharge economic growth by Sunak and Truss.
There are 74 SEZ and 12 Freeports spread across England, Scotland, and Wales.
While in opposition Labour opposed free zones, but still went ahead and signed off on them with the Tories.
Now in power, Labour are creating more SEZs and last October published a 192 page document on Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), this was a continuation of Michael Gove's push for CPOs. The document was updated in January 2025.
The MSM is not doing their job and informing the public of what's happening with Zone Fever.
The UK is being carved up into patchworks of corporate sovereignties, all public services will be privatised, as will the entire country.
It is beyond criminal that the MSM are not investigating this properly.
No one voted for this.
itv.com/news/anglia/20…

This morning I have sent an FOI request to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
To: Freedom of Information Team
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF
Dear FOI Team,
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) across the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to the rollout of 86 free zones (comprising 74 Special Economic Zones and 12 Freeports) as part of the UK Government’s economic growth strategy. I am also seeking data that warrants greater public scrutiny due to concerns about transparency, democratic accountability, and the impact on local communities.

Background Context:
Recent public discourse on platforms like X highlights significant concerns about the scale and implications of the 86 free zones rollout. These zones, spanning 34–75 km in diameter, are linked to CPOs that affect homes, businesses, and agricultural land, often without sufficient public consultation or transparency. For example, a £2.2bn project in Birmingham reportedly involves CPOs affecting 1,833 properties, and similar actions are occurring in Norfolk and Suffolk, where villagers are losing homes.

Furthermore, there are allegations of a lack of transparency, with figures like Rachel Reeves reportedly refusing to commit to audits of these zones, and concerns about corporate influence from entities like Blackrock, Deloitte, and Amazon endorsing related economic policies. These issues underscore the need for public access to detailed data on CPOs and their impacts.

Information Requested:
To better understand the scope, impact, and governance of CPOs in relation to the 86 free zones and other development projects, I request the following information:
Total Number of CPOs Issued Nationally (2023–2025):
The total number of CPOs issued across the UK from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025, broken down by year and region (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).
The number of properties (residential, commercial, and agricultural) affected by these CPOs, including a breakdown by property type and region.
CPOs Linked to the 86 Free Zones Rollout:
A list of all CPOs issued in connection with the 86 free zones (74 SEZs and 12 Freeports) identified in the UK Government’s economic strategy, including:
The name and location of each free zone (e.g., Liverpool City Region Freeport, South Hampshire Investment Zone).
The number of CPOs issued for each zone, with details of the number of properties affected and the type of properties (e.g., residential, commercial, agricultural).
The geographical boundaries of each free zone, including any updates to boundaries since their initial designation (e.g., as noted in updated maps for Humber and Solent Freeports on GOV.UK, 3 February 2025).
Specific details on whether Basingstoke, Hampshire, falls within or is affected by any of these free zones, particularly the South Hampshire Investment Zone or Solent Freeport, and if CPOs have been issued in Basingstoke as part of these initiatives.

Areas Affected by CPOs Outside Free Zones:
A list of areas (by local authority or region) where CPOs have been issued for other development projects (e.g., HS2, National Highways projects, urban regeneration) from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025, including the number of properties affected in each area.
Any data on CPOs related to infrastructure projects in Basingstoke, Hampshire, as outlined in the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan Update (Regulation 18), which identifies major developments like Manydown and Basing View.
Transparency and Public Scrutiny Concerns:
Copies of any internal audits, reports, or correspondence (including emails, memos, or meeting minutes) from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025 that discuss:
The transparency of SEZ and Freeport operations, particularly in response to concerns about Rachel Reeves’ reported refusal to commit to a National Audit Office investigation into England’s 8 Freeports and 48 SEZs for lack of transparency and questions over value for taxpayers’ money.
Compliance with the Nolan Principles in the governance of these free zones.
Details of any public consultations held for the 86 free zones, including dates, locations, and summaries of public feedback, particularly where CPOs were proposed or implemented.
Information on the involvement of private corporations (e.g., Blackrock, Deloitte, Amazon) in the governance or funding of SEZs and Freeports, including any contracts, memoranda of understanding, or financial incentives provided using public funds (state aid).
Democratic Accountability and Public Awareness:
Details of any plans or proposals to hold a public referendum or national consultation on the creation and expansion of SEZs and Freeports, given their significant impact on land use and sovereignty, as raised in public discussions on X.
Copies of the Labour government’s 192-page document on Compulsory Purchase Orders published in October 2024 and updated in January 2025, or a summary of its key provisions, particularly those related to SEZs and Freeports.
Additional Pertinent Data:
Any data or reports highlighting the socio-economic impacts of CPOs on affected communities, including displacement, compensation disputes, or changes in local property values, particularly in areas like Birmingham, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
Information on the use of state aid in SEZs and Freeports, including the total amount of public funds allocated to these zones from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025, and how this aligns with EU state aid rules, given claims that these zones contravene such regulations for at least 25 years.
Format and Scope:
I request that the information be provided in a clear, digital format (e.g., PDF or Excel spreadsheet for numerical data) where possible. If any requested data is held by another public body (e.g., National Highways, HS2 Ltd, or local authorities), please provide details of where I can access this information or forward my request accordingly. If any part of this request is likely to exceed the cost limit under Section 12 of the FOI Act, please advise on how I can refine my request to bring it within scope.
Rationale for Public Scrutiny:
The scale of the 86 free zones rollout, combined with the extensive use of CPOs, raises significant concerns about transparency, democratic accountability, and the potential for corporate welfare at the expense of taxpayers. The lack of media coverage and public consultation, alongside the refusal to audit these zones for transparency, suggests a need for greater public access to this information.
Furthermore, the involvement of major corporations in shaping economic policy, as well as the long-term implications for EU alignment, warrants scrutiny to ensure that these initiatives serve the public interest.
I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please contact me at my email address if you need clarification on any part of this request.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely,
David Powell

I am a volunteer who has been researching deregulated Special Economic Zones, Freeports in relation to Brexit since 2016.
Please consider donating via my Ko-Fi online tip jar so I can continue with my research and expose this Ponzi Scheme to privatise the UK.
Thanks❤️
ko-fi.com/europeanpowell

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

May 19

Look at the levels of concentrated contempt in Kendall’s face.
She makes Edwina Currie look like Mother Theresa.
Kendall caught misleading parliament four times in 23 minutes over DWP PIP cuts thecanary.co/uk/analysis/20…

You want to know something that is not being discussed about Liz Kendall's disability cuts?
The Retained EU Law Bill (REUL)
legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/28/…
Deregulation and Welfare Cuts: I had to dig into The Explanatory Notes in the REUL Bill, which emphasised ministerial powers to 'simplify regulations', which Starmer’s government inherited from Jacob Rees-Mogg in July 2024.
600 EU/UK laws were revoked overnight on December 31st 2023.
The 3 main areas of law were employment rights, food safety and environmental laws.
In areas such as employment law, workers could lose access to long-established rights that now form an integral part of Britain’s reputation as a fair society, such as holiday pay or protection against fire and rehire.
Labour’s welfare reforms, led by Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall, aim to save £5 billion by 2030, notably through PIP cuts.
The REUL Act’s potential to dilute employment rights (e.g., Working Time Directive, TUPE) supports this by enabling Freeports/SEZs to offer low-wage, insecure jobs, aligning with Kendall’s push to move people off benefits into work. For example, weakened TUPE protections could facilitate job transfers to Freeport firms with fewer worker safeguards.

It’s the Brexit law nobody talks about, and Keir Starmer’s Labour is banking on you not noticing. The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL Act) is a corporate wet dream, quietly dismantling protections for workers, the environment, and food safety to fatten profits in Freeports and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
While Rachel Reeves swings the austerity axe at disabled people and families, this obscure Act—buried in Brexit’s shadow—fuels a £19.78 billion corporate heist that’s delivered just 22,067 new jobs at £896,246 each.
The mainstream media (MSM)? Silent, as always, when BlackRock and Palantir are cashing in. Welcome to Starmer’s Britain, where “change” means selling workers down the river.
open.substack.com/pub/europeanpo…

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

May 10

Freeports have already cost the public nearly £20bn – yet Labour want more of them?
Cost per job figures in UK Freeports, this is insane, it’s down to the 10 year corporate tax breaks in deregulated free zones.

thecanary.co/long-read/2025…

https://x.com/europeanpowell/status/1919420217064571318?s=46

How is cost per job calculated?👇🏻

https://x.com/europeanpowell/status/1919420217064571318?s=46

The UK’s subsidies are classified as State aid.
Did you know that under Thatcher and Cameron, the rollout of SEZs and Freeports had to abide by the EU's regulatory framework on SEZs that prohibits member states from using State aid as a profit motive?
Why? Because illegal use of public money would distort markets, specifically the EU's Single Market, by creating an unlevel playing field.
Brexit meant Sunak and Truss could quickly and quietly initiate the resurrection of SEZs and Freeports and get on with the business of fleecing UK taxpayers without any EU restrictions on State aid/public money to worry about.
Starmer's Labour MPs, Mayors, councillors, Lords, and Baronesses signed off on the Tories' free zones between 2021 and 2022, which was the bidding period.
Domestic taxpayer-funded grants and tax breaks, not loans, avoid external debt but raise concerns about public expenditure efficiency (e.g., £936,693 per job). All 86 of the UK's free zones contravene the EU's regulatory infrastructure, which puts rejoining the EU off the table for 25 years, this is the duration of the UK's free zones contracts.
Now do you understand why Starmer says "There will be no rejoining the EU in my lifetime"

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

May 4

https://x.com/Britain_People/status/1918647479592996884

https://x.com/Britain_People/status/1918647479592996884

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1908771662675231103

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1908771662675231103

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Apr 29

New data on UK deregulated free zones rollout.
If you are not shocked by this astronomical expenditure of public money on corporate governance experiments in deregulated zonification, then you need your head examining.

£64 billion projected cost over 25 years for Freeports and SEZs
Break down of the projected £64 billion cost over 25 years for the UK Government’s Freeports and SEZs (Investment Zones/Enterprise Zones), tracing the sources for each component, explaining the methodology used to process the figure, and ensuring transparency in the calculations.
Overview of the £64 Billion Figure
The £64 billion projected cost over 25 years represents the estimated total public expenditure on Freeports and SEZs from their inception (2012 for SEZs, 2022 for Freeports) through to the end of their 25-year contract periods (around 2037 for Enterprise Zones, 2046 for Freeports, and 2048 for Investment Zones). The figure is composed of two main components:
Freeports: £9.5 billion.

SEZs (Investment Zones/Enterprise Zones): £54.5 billion.

Total: £9.5 billion + £54.5 billion = £64 billion.

This projection builds on the current costs (up to 2024) and extends them forward, accounting for ongoing tax reliefs, infrastructure investments, and other public expenditures over the full 25-year period.
I've provided detailed sources and methodology for each.
Freeports – Projected Cost of £9.5 Billion Over 25 Years
Current Cost (2022-2024): £2.5 Billion
Source:
Seed Funding: The 2024 House of Commons Business and Trade Committee report publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmse… and UK Freeports Programme Annual Report 2022, gov.uk confirm that the UK Government allocated £1 billion in seed funding for the 12 Freeports. This was part of the initial setup, distributed around 2021-2022 when Freeports became operational.
Tax Reliefs: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS, web ID:3) estimates that tax reliefs for Freeports cost £500 million annually across all 12 Freeports. This includes business rates relief, customs duty exemptions, stamp duty land tax relief, and National Insurance contributions relief.
For the 3 years from 2022 to 2024 (the period covered in the 2024 report), this totals £500 million × 3 = £1.5 billion.
Calculation:
Seed funding: £1 billion.
Tax reliefs (2022-2024): £1.5 billion.
Total Current Cost (2022-2024): £1 billion + £1.5 billion = £2.5 billion.

Verification:
The £1 billion seed funding aligns with the Freeports Bidding Prospectus (2021), which allocated up to £25 million per Freeport, totaling £300 million for the initial 12 Freeports, but subsequent government reports confirm a higher total allocation of £1 billion for setup costs across all Freeports.
The £500 million annual tax relief estimate is from the IFS. A more conservative estimate from HM Treasury (2023) suggests £300 million annually, but I used the IFS figure as it’s widely cited in policy analyses. The £1.5 billion over 3 years is thus a reasonable estimate based on this source.

Projected Cost (2025-2046): Additional £7 Billion
Source:
Tax Relief Duration: GOV.UK, Freeports page, updated 2024 notes that Freeport tax reliefs, such as business rates relief and stamp duty land tax relief, are available for 5 years (until 2026 for most Freeports, as they were established in 2021-2022).
However, Freeports also retain business rates growth for 25 years, which can be reinvested locally but isn’t counted as a direct cost here. The tax reliefs (e.g., customs duty exemptions, National Insurance relief) are the primary public cost.

Long-Term Estimate: Since the IFS estimate of £500 million annually applies to the initial 5 years, I assumed a reduced rate for the remaining 20 years (2027-2046) to reflect a tapering of benefits as businesses establish and the need for incentives decreases. I used £300 million annually as a conservative estimate for these years, based on the lower HM Treasury figure and the expectation that tax reliefs would not remain at peak levels.

Calculation:
2025-2026 (Years 4-5): Tax reliefs continue at £500 million annually for the remaining 2 years of the 5-year relief period: £500 million × 2 = £1 billion.
2027-2046 (Years 6-25): Tax reliefs at £300 million annually for 20 years: £300 million × 20 = £6 billion.
Total Additional Cost (2025-2046): £1 billion + £6 billion = £7 billion.

Total Freeport Cost Over 25 Years:
2022-2024: £2.5 billion.
2025-2046: £7 billion.
Total: £2.5 billion + £7 billion = £9.5 billion.

Rationale for Assumptions:
The reduction from £500 million to £300 million annually after 2026 reflects the likelihood that initial incentives (e.g., to attract businesses) would decrease as Freeports mature. This is a common pattern in SEZ programs globally, where tax incentives are front-loaded.
The 25-year period aligns with the Freeport contract duration (e.g., Cromarty Firth’s 25-year projection of 11,300 jobs and £6.5 billion investment, as noted in the target post).
SEZs – Projected Cost of £54.5 Billion Over 25 Years

Current Cost (2012-2024): £17.28 Billion
Source:
2012-2020: A 2021 National Audit Office (NAO) report estimated that the UK Government spent £12 billion on Enterprise Zones from 2012 to 2020, covering capital funding, infrastructure investments, and tax reliefs.
2020-2024: I estimated an additional £4 billion, assuming a reduced annual spending rate of £1 billion (down from the NAO’s £1.5 billion annual average for 2012-2020) due to budget constraints and a shift toward Investment Zones.
This is an assumption but aligns with trends in public spending reports (e.g., 2024 House of Commons report noting reduced SEZ funding).
Investment Zones (2023-2024): The 2023 Spring Budget allocated £160 million in seed funding per Investment Zone for 8 zones, totaling £1.28 billion. Since Investment Zones started in 2023, this cost covers 2023-2024.
Calculation:
2012-2020: £12 billion (NAO).
2020-2024: £4 billion (assumed £1 billion annually × 4 years).
Investment Zones: £1.28 billion.
Total Current Cost (2012-2024): £12 billion + £4 billion + £1.28 billion = £17.28 billion.
Verification:
The £12 billion from 2012-2020 is a well-documented figure from the NAO.
The £1 billion annual estimate for 2020-2024 is an assumption but reasonable given the 2024 House of Commons report’s indication of reduced SEZ spending. A more precise figure isn’t available in the provided references, but this estimate aligns with historical trends.
The £1.28 billion for Investment Zones is directly sourced from the 2023 Spring Budget.

Projected Cost (2025-2048): Additional £37.22 Billion
Source:
Enterprise Zones (2012-2037): Enterprise Zones, established in 2012, have a typical 25-year lifespan (ending around 2037). I assumed spending decreases to £500 million annually for the remaining 13 years (2025-2037) to reflect a shift in focus to Investment Zones and reduced infrastructure needs as zones mature. This assumption is based on the trend of declining SEZ spending noted in the 2024 House of Commons report and historical patterns in Enterprise Zone funding.
Investment Zones (2023-2048): Investment Zones, launched in 2023, also have a 25-year lifespan (ending 2048). The 2023 Spring Budget allocated £160 million per zone annually for 8 zones. I assumed this funding continues for the remaining 24 years (2025-2048), as Investment Zones are a flagship policy for long-term growth
Calculation:
Enterprise Zones (2025-2037): £500 million annually × 13 years = £6.5 billion.
Investment Zones (2025-2048): £160 million per zone × 8 zones = £1.28 billion annually; over 24 years = £1.28 billion × 24 = £30.72 billion.
Total Additional Cost (2025-2048): £6.5 billion + £30.72 billion = £37.22 billion.

Total SEZ Cost Over 25 Years:
2012-2024: £17.28 billion.
2025-2048: £37.22 billion.
Total: £17.28 billion + £37.22 billion = £54.5 billion.

Rationale for Assumptions:
The £500 million annual estimate for Enterprise Zones post-2024 is a conservative assumption, reflecting reduced spending as zones mature. Historical data (NAO’s £1.5 billion annual average) supports a higher figure, but I adjusted downward based on the 2024 House of Commons report’s indication of budget constraints.
The £1.28 billion annual cost for Investment Zones is based on the 2023 Spring Budget’s allocation, assumed to continue as a core policy commitment. This is a simplification, as actual spending may vary, but it aligns with the government’s long-term growth strategy for these zones.

Total Projected Cost Over 25 Years
Freeports: £9.5 billion.

SEZs: £54.5 billion.

Total: £9.5 billion + £54.5 billion = £64 billion.

Regional Breakdown (proportional):
England: Freeports (8/12 of £9.5 billion) + SEZs (48/73 of £54.5 billion) = £6.33 billion + £35.84 billion = £42.17 billion.
Scotland: Freeports (2/12) + SEZs (18/73) = £1.58 billion + £13.44 billion = £15.02 billion.
Wales: Freeports (2/12) + SEZs (7/73) = £1.58 billion + £5.22 billion = £6.80 billion.
Northern Ireland: SEZs (1/73) = £0.75 billion.

Processing and Methodology
The £64 billion figure was processed through the following steps:

Establish Current Costs (Up to 2024):
Used direct data from the 2024 House of Commons report, NAO, and 2023 Spring Budget for Freeports and SEZs.
Freeports: £2.5 billion (seed funding + tax reliefs).
SEZs: £17.28 billion (historical spending + Investment Zone seed funding).
Project Future Costs (2025-2048):
Freeports: Extended tax reliefs based on IFS estimates, with a reduction after the initial 5 years to reflect program maturation.
SEZs: Assumed reduced spending on Enterprise Zones and continued investment in Investment Zones, based on government policy commitments and historical spending trends.
Sum Costs Across the 25-Year Period:
Combined current and projected costs for Freeports and SEZs.
Distributed costs regionally based on the number of Freeports and SEZs in each area.
Validate Assumptions:
Cross-checked with available data (e.g., NAO, IFS, government reports) to ensure estimates were reasonable.
Used conservative assumptions (e.g., reduced tax reliefs after 2026, lower Enterprise Zone spending post-2024) to avoid overestimation.

Sources Summary

Freeports:
Seed Funding (£1 billion): 2024 House of Commons report; web ID:0 (UK Freeports Programme Annual Report 2022).
Tax Reliefs (£500 million annually, 2022-2026): Institute for Fiscal Studies (web ID:3).
Tax Relief Duration (5 years): GOV.UK Freeports page, 2024).
Long-Term Estimate (£300 million annually, 2027-2046): Assumption based on HM Treasury’s lower estimate of £300 million annually, adjusted for program maturation.

SEZs:
2012-2020 (£12 billion): 2021 National Audit Office report.
2020-2024 (£4 billion): Assumption based on reduced spending (£1 billion annually), informed by the 2024 House of Commons report.
Investment Zones (£1.28 billion annually): 2023 Spring Budget.
Enterprise Zones (2025-2037, £500 million annually): Assumption based on reduced spending trends (2024 House of Commons report).
Investment Zones (2025-2048, £1.28 billion annually): 2023 Spring Budget, assumed to continue as a policy priority.

Conclusion
The £64 billion projected cost over 25 years for Freeports and SEZs was derived by combining current expenditures (up to 2024) with future projections, using data from government reports (House of Commons, NAO, Spring Budget), policy analyses (IFS), and conservative assumptions about ongoing costs.
The methodology involved breaking down costs by program (Freeports vs. SEZs), estimating future spending based on historical trends and policy commitments, and summing these over the 25-year period. While some figures (e.g., post-2024 tax reliefs, SEZ spending rates) rely on assumptions, these are grounded in available data and reflect a reasonable projection of long-term public costs.

Labour sees Freeports’ £500 million yearly tax reliefs as a way to attract investment, despite their £936,693 cost per job and past Labour criticisms calling them “job-destroying.”
Labour are 100% lying to you about the economic growth benefits of free zones, they are setting up 5 new tax sites in Labour strongholds.
We can surmise that these sites will most likely be: -
Teesside Freeport (Tees Valley): A key “levelling up” area under the Conservatives, Teesside is politically significant. Labour likely approved a new customs site here to maintain support in this swing region, especially given governance issues flagged in the 2024 Commons report (UK Govt website mentions Teesside specifically). Likely site: Teesport expansion.

Liverpool City Region Freeport (Merseyside): A Labour stronghold, Liverpool would be a priority for economic support. A new customs site here aligns with Labour’s focus on northern regeneration. Likely site: Port of Liverpool, expanding existing facilities.

Forth Green Freeport (Scotland): With Labour aiming to strengthen its position in Scotland, approving a customs site for Forth (covering Edinburgh, Grangemouth, Rosyth) supports their green energy focus (e.g., offshore wind). Likely site: Grangemouth, a major industrial hub.

Humber Freeport (North East Lincolnshire): Another northern region, Humber (including Hull, Immingham) is a key logistics hub. A new customs site here would boost Labour’s economic credentials in the North. Likely site: Immingham Port, a major import/export node.

Solent Freeport (Hampshire): To balance regional investment, Labour likely approved a site in the South, where Solent (Southampton, Portsmouth) supports maritime trade. Likely site: Portsmouth International Port, enhancing trade capacity.

The research I do into the duopoly's nationwide rollout of deregulated Special Economic Zones and Freeports is on a voluntary basis. It is painstaking, but I'm uncovering astonishing amounts of political and economic chicanery that not one major media news outlet is covering.
If you are able, please make a donation to my Ko-Fi online tip jar, so I can continue exposing this rotten cabal of corporate lackeys' designs on transforming the UK into 86 tax havens and feudal enclaves.
No one voted for this.
ko-fi.com/europeanpowell

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Apr 27

Scottish Independence questionable due to SNP's decision to accept Westminster's push for 18 SEZs and 2 Freeports in Scotland.
The UK’s rollout of SEZs and Freeports, particularly the 18 SEZs and 2 Freeports in Scotland, could compromise Scottish independence by creating economic dependencies, entrenching corporate influence, and complicating EU rejoining due to conflicts with state aid rules. The 25-year contracts exacerbate these challenges by locking Scotland into deregulated frameworks that may conflict with EU regulations or limit policy autonomy post-independence. While these zones could fuel pro-independence sentiment by highlighting devolution’s limits, they also risk fragmenting Scotland’s economy and creating vested interests tied to the UK. For an independent Scotland eyeing EU membership, aligning these zones with EU state aid rules would require significant reforms, potentially disrupting economic stability. The interplay of Brexit, trade costs, and long-term contracts thus makes the path to independence more complex, requiring careful navigation to balance economic realities with sovereignty aspirations.

Obviously, the above tweet also applies to England and Wales.
Northern Ireland is to get something called The Enhanced Investment Zone is designed to “build on [Northern Ireland’s] cost competitiveness and first-class reputation for innovation.”
However, it does not include the customs benefits typical of Freeports, and the prospectus emphasizes “flexibility” and alignment with “evidenced priorities” rather than widespread deregulation.
The involvement of the Northern Ireland Executive in co-developing the zone suggests a more regulated approach, as it must comply with both UK subsidy control rules and EU state aid rules under the Windsor Framework.

The £52 million seed funding for the two Scottish Green Freeports is public funding, not private. It consists of £25 million per Freeport (totaling £50 million) in seed capital, with the additional £2 million likely covering setup or operational costs, all provided by the UK and Scottish governments. This qualifies as state aid under the UK’s Subsidy Control framework, as it is government money used to support economic development.
Funding for the 18 SEZs in Scotland
The 18 SEZs (which include Enterprise Zones, Investment Zones, and similar designations) are indeed funded through state aid. The up to £160 million per SEZ figure aligns with the UK government’s Investment Zones program, where each zone can receive a combination of tax reliefs, grants, and infrastructure funding over a 10-year period.
This is public money, classified as state aid, and is consistent with the broader Levelling Up agenda. For the 18 SEZs in Scotland, this totals up to £2.88 billion (£160 million × 18), all of which is public funding.
Key Distinction
The £52 million seed funding for the two Scottish Freeports is public funding (state aid), not private, but its purpose is to attract subsequent private investment.

The £2.88 billion for the 18 SEZs is also public funding (state aid), with a similar goal of stimulating economic activity and private investment over a longer term.

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