Cameron: Britain is open for business
PRIME Minister David Cameron vistied Yorkshire today to make his first major speech since stepping into No 10 Downing Street and focused on the government’s determination to help British business and stabilise the economy.
Mr Cameron outlined the strategy to improve the economy when he made a speech in Shipley, West Yorkshire.
The Prime Minister said Britain’s economy has been “sleepwalking” towards instability and has become too over-reliant on the public sector, which employs tens of thousands of people in Yorkshire.
He outlined the need to promote enterprise and argue that Labour created an “uninspiring” economy.
EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation welcomed today’s speech on the economy by the Prime Minister, and his official recognition of the need to rebalance the economy with a stronger role for manufacturing.
EEF region director, Alan Hall, said: “The UK’s economy is now at a crossroads and we have to realise that we didn’t get here by accident. Manufacturers will be heartened to hear such a strong commitment from the Prime Minister that the government is planning to chart a course in a different direction from now on.
“The next step is to put in place a policy framework across government at national and regional level that will build this momentum and deliver the crucial rebalancing we need.”
Mr Cameron said: “Can we rebalance economic power across our regions, across different industries so that more people have a stake in our success?
“Can we end the inevitability of millions on long-term welfare and bring hope to those unemployed?
“Can we inject new life into the private sector, so that enterprise can drive not just our recovery but the rebuilding beyond it?
“Can we go from an economy built on debt and borrowing to one built on saving and investment? Can we reopen Britain for business? My answer is an unequivocal, emphatic yes.”
IOD chief economist on why the recovery is in the balance. Click here to read.
The Prime Minister’s visit came as the political leadership of Leeds City Council changed from a Conservative and Liberal Democrat joint administration to a minority Labour administration, with the support of the Green Group.
Coun Keith Wakefield, leader of the Labour Group, has been elected as leader of the Council.
Labour have agreed an arrangement which will see the Green Group vote with Labour at key times.
Coun Jim McKenna has been elected as Leeds’s Lord Mayor while Coun Patrick Davey will become Deputy Lord Mayor.
Labour gained four seats in Leeds at the local elections on May 6 but the results left the Council under no overall control from any single political group.
