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Sir Keir Starmer has inked a £50bn deal with Donald Trump’s most-hated media company for a new Hollywood theme park in Bedford.
The Prime Minister has given the green light to the Universal theme park and resort, which will be built on a 480-acre plot of land in Bedfordshire and open to visitors 365 days a year.
Universal claims the resort, which will be one of the largest in Europe when it opens in 2031, will create roughly 28,000 jobs and deliver a £50bn boost to the economy.
Sir Keir said: “Today we closed the deal on a multibillion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage.”
The approval comes as the Prime Minister looks to sign a trade agreement with Mr Trump to soften the blow of his new 10pc tariffs. But by striking a deal with Universal he risks angering the US president, who launched a furious tirade against the media giant earlier this year.
In a post on his Truth Social platform in February, Mr Trump described Universal’s parent company Comcast as “corrupt” and an “illegal arm of the Democrat Party”. He branded Brian Roberts, Comcast’s long-serving chairman and chief executive, a “lowlife”.
NBCUniversal and Comcast are also facing an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission over claims they were promoting “invidious” diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The crackdown began just weeks after Mr Trump, who won fame as host of NBC’s reality series The Apprentice, signed an executive order aiming to end DEI efforts at US companies.
Universal operates theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando, as well as in Japan, Beijing and Singapore. They boast attractions based on its vast catalogue of films, which includes Minions, Wicked and the Jurassic Park franchise, as well as some intellectual property from third parties, including Harry Potter.
In addition to rides and roller coasters, the Bedford site – which will be the first in Europe –will include a 500-room hotel, as well as a restaurant and shopping complex.
Universal expects 8.5m visitors in the park’s first year, making it the largest visitor attraction in the UK.
The development has been agreed with Bedford borough council, but is still subject to planning approval from Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary.
The plans have received cross-party support from local MPs, though some residents have raised concerns about the environmental impact, as well as increased noise and traffic.
The Universal theme park will be built on the site of the former Stewartby’s brickworks, which was once the largest in the world producing 500m bricks per year.