AstraZeneca plc has decided not to proceed with plans to build a vaccine plant near Liverpool, the company told the Financial Times on Friday. "Following protracted discussions with the government, we are no longer pursuing our planned investment at Speke," AstraZeneca said, citing several factors, including failing to reach an agreement with the British government on state support.
Sources with knowledge of the negotiations told the FT that the Conservative government intended to pledge £90 million to the project. However, Labour, which came to power last year, wanted to decrease state support to £40 million as it sought to cut spending.