Labour has come under fire for claiming credit for a major Universal Studios theme park project in Bedfordshire – despite the fact the deal was actually set in motion under the Conservative government over a year ago.
The Labour Government today trumpeted the project as part of its much-vaunted “Plan for Change”, praising the potential economic benefits of bringing Universal’s first European theme park to the UK — but failed to mention that it was the Conservatives who actually did the deal back in 2023.
Conservative MPs have branded Labour’s move as “shameless”, pointing out that Universal’s land acquisition – and early planning for the Bedford site – was brokered back in 2023 during Rishi Sunak’s premiership.
At the time, in 2023 Universal confirmed it had bought a vast 480-acre site at Kempston Hardwick and was planning the full-scale theme park and resort. The news was widely reported in industry publications and national media, with Conservative officials and local councils playing a key role in securing the deal.
A former Conservative MP told the Post:
“Labour are pulling a fast one. The groundwork for this was laid by the previous Conservative government in close partnership with local leaders. To suggest this is somehow Labour’s initiative is simply misleading.”
Indeed, a 2023 statement from Universal Studios read:
“We recently acquired land in Bedford and are at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site.”
Read the full Conservative Post article about Universal buying the 450 acre site in 2023 here: https://conservativepost.co.uk/universal-studios-confirms-plans-for-first-uk-theme-park/
The idea was hailed at the time as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” by business leaders, with Bedford Borough Council’s mayor, Tom Wootton, hinting at the potential development when he joked a £950m road upgrade would put Bedford at “the centre of the universe”.
Despite all this, Labour today presented the Universal project as a fresh win under their leadership – glossing over the fact the land had already been bought, plans laid and the deal done two years ago under the Conservatives.
Brexit guru Steve Wright said:
“It seems that Labour’s “Plan for Change” is to announce things that the previous government did, just two years later, and pretend that they did it.”
A Tory MP said:
“Once again Labour are trying to repackage Conservative achievements with a shiny new bow and hope no one notices.”
Universal, famous for blockbuster franchises like Jurassic Park, E.T., and Back to the Future, has not yet confirmed when or if construction on the UK park will begin, but has reiterated that Bedford was chosen for its strategic location near London and proximity to London Luton Airport.
Bedford will join the ranks of five existing Universal Studios locations in Hollywood, Orlando, Osaka, Singapore and Beijing – as well as a smaller, family-focused park under construction in Texas.
Meanwhile, critics say Labour should focus less on “taking credit” and more on ensuring the project actually gets off the ground.
“Announcing something twice doesn’t make it real,” said another Conservative MP. “The hard work was already done. Now they need to just not mess it up.”
