Lib Dems propose regional stock exchanges
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg will tell business leaders at Daresbury Innovation Centre today that he hopes to create a series of regional stock exchanges.
Mr Clegg is visiting the North West to launch the party’s national ‘Enterprise in a Fair Society’ business manifesto.
The business manifesto will bring together policies designed to rebuild the economy and rebalance it away from an over-reliance on funding from the City of London.
It also backs easier access to local investment funds for innovative new businesses amongst a number of key proposals.
Dr Jo Crotty, Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South, said that she intends to call for Warrington to be considered as a home to one of a new network of regional stock exchanges.
She said: “If we are to put the North West back on the road to recovery it is vital, with banks still reeling from the credit crunch, that small businesses like Calon Associates and BioEDEN – that I will be visiting with Nick Clegg – have good access to equity share funds from investors in our area.
“During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century many commercial centres had local stock exchanges to create a market for local equity funds.
“In the 21st century the trading floor is likely to be virtual but it is more vital than ever to bring together innovative small businesses with informed local
investors in an efficient way.
“The proposal could see a network of local listings that create an equity share market for each of the region’s main business centres giving an alternative to bank debt for the North West’s small and medium sized businesses as we come out of the downturn.”
