Brexit election goes to the Wyre

Brexit tensions in this election are brought into sharp focus in the Wyre Forest, where Conservative MP Mark Garnier campaigned to remain, but 63% of his constituents wanted to leave the European Union.

The referendum vote did help employment in the Wyre Forest in a small way – Garnier was appointed to the new position of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Trade, working under Liam Fox.

Garnier, speaking as the recent Midlands Trade Summit, said the region is “leading the way” on trade with countries outside the EU.

“If you look further afield, you will see opportunities beyond the borders of Europe too, which we can now look to seize,” he said.

“90% of future global growth will be outside the EU. We can strike trade agreements with global partners, who also happen to be some of the fastest growing economies. Many of whom have already signalled strong interest in striking agreements with the UK.”

He added that the Department for International Trade is “encouraging companies from Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire to meet with buyers from Shanghai, New York, and Dubai”.

He said: “Our objectives are simple and clear. We will promote UK companies abroad; we will attract inward investment into regions such as the Midlands, and promote our businesses across the world; and finally, we will build a strong trading framework for the UK outside the EU.”

Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest’s Conservative candidate and International Trade minister – credit: @Mark4WyreForest

Although Brexit was given as the reason by Theresa May for calling the general election, Sophia Haywood, policy manager at Hereford and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, believes businesses are keen for Brexit to not dominate the campaign.

She said: “There are lots of other issues aside from Brexit that are affecting businesses in the Wyre Forest and we don’t want to see them pushed onto the sidelines.

“The local business community wants to see action on a number of fronts, including improving physical and digital infrastructure, investing in skills and education, as well as helping to support businesses of all sizes to export their products and services across the globe.

“While local businesses all agree, Britain must get the best possible Brexit deal, they see other issues like skills and infrastructure as just as important, if not more.”

The Chamber has set out the key areas that it believes are the most important issues for local businesses.

Haywood said: “A lot of businesses in the region are struggling to get the workforce that they need, so we want to see government offer businesses the best environment possible and improve the skills of our future workforce. We also want to see less costs as initiatives like the Apprenticeship Levy and the National Living Wage have affected local businesses.”

Other areas include local growth, with a keen emphasis on looking beyond the Midlands Engine and focusing on regions such as Worcestershire, and investment in infrastructure, including super-fast broadband and mobile connectivity.

She added: “We want the government to look into what local regions really need rather than a one size fits all.”

The Wyre Forest constituency, which covers the towns of Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn, had nine years with an independent MP after Dr Richard Taylor, who stood as an Independent Kidderminster and Health Concern candidate, won the seat in 2001.

Garnier won the seat back for the Conservatives in 2010, with a majority of 2,643 and increased his majority to nearly 12,871 in 2015 – a result of Richard Taylor’s vote falling by more than half, while Labour only increased its vote by 2,200.

Matt Lamb, the local-born Labour candidate who is the assistant principal at Sandwell College in West Bromwich, is returning for a second campaign.

Wyre Forest’s Labour candidate Matt Lamb – credit: @Matt4wyreforest

Lamb believes SMEs in the Wyre Forest are concerned about taxation, and he doesn’t want “to add to their burden”.

“Labour do have plans to increase corporation tax, but only for large businesses and those who have a turnover bigger than £300,000,” he said. “I also think apprenticeships are an absolute must and businesses need to be supported in finding the best skilled workers. Labour also want to introduce a National Investment Bank so more businesses can have access to finance as right now the banks make it so difficult for start-up companies.”

However, Matt believes that the fight for the Wyre Forest has become a two-horse race.

He said: “In 2015 there was a lot of support for third parties, but there appears to be a movement back to the two main parties. I think what we will see in Wyre Forest is a clear decision between Conservative or Labour.”