Business leaders and politicians ‘remain poles apart’ over devolution, says Chamber president
“It is abundantly clear to business leaders across the region that we appear to remain poles apart from views in Whitehall,” Paula Dillon, President of Leeds Chamber of Commerce, told members at the organisation’s annual dinner last night.
In her speech, Dillon, who became the present of the chamber in October 2017 and id due to move away from the role later this year, told the packed Queens Hotel room she described how “immensely frustrating” it is over deadlock of devolution in Yorkshire.
Dillion said: “Having reviewed my speech from last year, I note that I said, “I understand we are now closer to some kind of deal with Whitehall…..” Twelve months later it is abundantly clear to business leaders across the region that we appear to remain poles apart from views in Whitehall.
“In 2012 this region led the way with the country’s largest City Deal, which included £1bn for transport investment. It is immensely frustrating to see how far back we have fallen as other regions power ahead with their devolution ambitions. As business leaders we implore our politicians to be pragmatic and break the impasse in 2019.”
Despite the lack of progress over a devolution deal in the region, Dillion did applaud the efforts of of the campaign to bring Channel 4 to Leeds.
Dillon told Chamber members: “Leeds is the city I have chosen to call home and I, probably like all of you, was immensely proud when Channel Four announced they too were also going to make their home here.”
Leeds was chosen as the home of the broadcaster’s new National HQ in a unanimous decision announced in October. Around 300 jobs will be created by the move.
She said “It is a great endorsement of the many advantages which our city has to offer and we join all the businesses in the room in welcoming Channel 4 as an addition to the many quality businesses represented across the city and in this room tonight.
“Congratulations to Roger, Judith, Susan, Tom, Martin and all of those involved in bringing this opportunity to the Leeds City Region. I have no doubt that the creative industry and all of those who want to forge a career in the industry will thank you for your ambition and hard work.”
Dillon, who is the first female president of Leeds Chamber of Commerce, also highlighted how the Chamber is “no longer a male bastion” as she is set to handover the presidency to lawyer Amanda Beresford, current Vice President of the Chamber, later this year.
Dillion said: “As a chamber we have continued to champion Women in STEM – something which was a big issue at the Manufacturing round table I attended last week with Nick Garthwaite, the Bradford president, and you will hear more of our plans in the coming months.
“I am delighted that the Chamber is no longer a male bastion and that my successor as President, Amanda Beresford, will confound the belief expressed to me that ‘You can’t have two women, it’s taking it too far’.”
She added: “The Chamber holds Womens lunches which are really well attended – some men attend too and are welcome – and provides guidance and support for female business people. There are those who question this and believe that it is “going too far” or that having targets or ambitions for gender equality is reverse discrimination or will lead to “average women getting the best jobs”
“Well I tested this at a Women in STEM event that I hosted with my US partners in Silicon Valley last September. I asked the audience what they thought of this view and one of the delegates gave me a great quote, which I would like to leave you with this evening. “True equality will not be achieved when a female genius is just as likely to win the Nobel Prize as a male genius, but when a female schmuck is just as likely to get the top job as a male schmuck”.”
