UK's new Universal theme park will bring '8.5 million visitors to the UK', Nandy claims

Yeah, we're really excited. There is what we're announcing today is one of the biggest investments into the UK for decades

It's a huge project that Comcast and Universal are opening a theme park in Bedfordshire

It'll be their first in Europe, one of the largest visitor destinations across our continent

It's got a huge amount of private investment pouring into it. It'll create 28,000 jobs, 80% of which will come from the local area

And we're working with the company to skill up young people to be able to get those jobs

It's a huge vote of confidence in the United Kingdom. And we're really delighted to be able to announce that we've secured that deal this morning

The speeds are going into the ground and this will all be ready in six years' time, you reckon

Well, that's the plan and we're determined to stick to it. One of the reasons that we've been able to secure the deal is because we've been talking to partners, business partners like Comcast and others, about the work that we're doing, speeding up the planning system, speeding up government decision making, getting rid of the barriers that stop great companies investing in the United Kingdom

and this isn't just about numbers on the spreadsheet, as you know, Eamon, it's about jobs

it's about young people having opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise, it's about money in people's pockets

and better living standards, and it's about celebrating the fact that the company is excited to be investing in Britain

not just because we're a good place to do business and a stable place, but because we're great at this stuff

whether it's James Bond, Harry Potter, you name it, we're really, really good at the creative industries

We are talking about the Bedford area here. How good is that going to be for Bedford

We think it is going to be game changing but don trust us Trust the local council trust the local MPs all of whom are firmly behind this project It got huge support in the local area We obviously listened to the public about concerns around things like transport

and part of how we were able to secure this deal with the company is that we have committed to improving the transport infrastructure in the area

That's good for local people, but it's also great for the UK economy as a whole

Because you're going to be taking people from Europe as well. We're not just talking about New Year's Tootlacross from Cambridge or whatever to get to this theme park

I mean, you're coming from Scotland, from Wales, from Ireland and from Central Europe

Well, I can tell you that at least there'll be at least one visitor from Wigan because I'm a huge fan of theme parks and I genuinely can't wait for it to open

But I also, what's more important is that in the first year alone, we estimate that we'll be able to attract eight and a half million people to come to visit the United Kingdom in order to come to this theme park

And, you know, when you look at things like the British Museum, which is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world, in previous eras, governments have partnered with businesses and philanthropists to be able to create these big projects that really are game changing for the British economy and make Britain a destination place for people from across the world

And that's exactly what we're doing as a government. It's a huge vote of confidence in us

You've seen all the turmoil going on across the globe. But this is the moment where we are keeping our cool heads

We're working with business all over the world and we're making sure that British people are feeling the benefit

Do you have a name for the park yet? So we haven't got a name for the theme park

But I did say to the CEO of Comcast yesterday that I was quite keen that they named one of the roller coasters the Nandwagon

I can't unfortunately announce that that is definitely going to happen today

but I'm working on it. Good idea