General Election 2015: Business reaction
BUSINESS leaders in Birmingham today urged the new Conservative government to work urgently to promote growth and confidence in the West Midlands.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBC) also said the region needed to press ahead with plans to create a combined authority after receiving clear signals from the now-defunct coalition that it regarded unity as the way forward.
Chamber president Greg Lowson said: “As the largest party, the Conservative Party has an opportunity to form the next Government. As it makes the case to do so, the Conservatives must demonstrate how it will support British business and help us to deliver wider prosperity.
“Support for investment, infrastructure, apprenticeships and exports would promote business confidence and growth, whereas more regulation, tax increases, and uncertainty over the nation’s finances would hit jobs, wages and prosperity.
“In particular, we need to see the Conservative Party set out clearly how it will eliminate the budget deficit, improve Britain’s infrastructure, including an unequivocal commitment to support airport expansion, and understand how it will deliver a new settlement for Britain in Europe.”
He said it was imperative that the business community contributed to winning the heart and minds of the wider region in order to create a combined authority capable of spearheading a West Midlands Powerhouse – which was an approach championed by Prime Minister David Cameron when he visited the region in the last week of campaigning.
Lowson also had a consoling word for Liberal Democrat Lorely Burt, who lost her Solihull seat to Tory Julian Knight in one of the most significant results of the night.
“We recognise the unstinting work Lorely Burt has contributed to the Solihull region but we now must look at creating a relationship with the new MP to promote the interests of one of the most important areas in Greater Birmingham,” said Lowson.
Business leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire have urged the region’s MPs to maintain strong ties with industry.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the organisation – which represents thousands of firms across the city and the county – had regular dialogue with MPs locally and looked forward to continuing that relationship on the back of the General Election.
She said: “We look forward to working, once again, with those MPs we have developed a very good dialogue with over the years – Geoffrey Robinson and Jim Cunningham in Coventry, Mark Pawsey in Rugby, Marcus Jones in Nuneaton, Nadhim Zahawi in Stratford, Chris White in Warwick & Leamington and Jeremy Wright in Kenilworth & Southam.
“We also congratulate Colleen Fletcher on her election in Coventry North East and Craig Tracey in North Warwickshire and will look to develop strong ties with both of them on behalf of businesses – small, medium and large – across the patch.
“The chamber is not a party political organisation but speaks up for members on a range of issues. It’s vital that we can take the concerns and issues of businesses to the very top and we’ve had great support from our MPs in doing that.”
Nationally, Bennett said the final result had come as a surprise to many and urged the Government to continue to break down the barriers to business growth.
“What business needs is a stable government that helps to provide the certainty they need when it comes to investing and creating new jobs. We hope that, by achieving a majority, the Conservatives can provide that and, as businesses, we are ready to work with MPs on a local level and the Government on a national level to achieve that,” she said.
