"Action Not Soundbites" - Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Responds to PM's Speech
3 years ago
In response to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “New Deal” speech Chris Fletcher, Director of Policy at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Much of what the Prime Minister has laid out is to be welcomed and should act as a real boost to the economy with a mix of infrastructure projects and changes to the planning regime.
“The real test though will be of course how much and how quickly this gets delivered. With respect to the PM we have heard a lot of similar sentiment and ambitious statements over the years and in a lot of cases are still waiting for work to start – the Castlefield Corridor in Greater Manchester is a prime example.
“Businesses, workers and communities are facing desperate times and need immediate action not soundbites if the country is to stave off the looming economic impact caused by Coronavirus.
“We need to see strong active government, with no distractions, delivering the structure for recovery in a way we have not seen before, backed up by genuine active involvement from local leaders and communities who know better than anyone in Whitehall where the money should be spent and what projects are priority. Without this the PM’s proposed New Deal could turn into old hat.”
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK, providing business support to approximately 4,500 members who collectively employ 446,000 people, around one-third of Greater Manchester’s workforce.
Recognised as a leader in its field, Greater Manchester Chamber’s reputation in government circles has grown locally and nationally. At the heart of the area of greatest economic intensity outside London and the South East, the Chamber is the primary body for business support, policy, representation and networking.
The Chamber is an independent, not-for-profit private company and its aim is to support businesses and help create the best climate for the region to prosper. This is achieved by ensuring that those taking decisions on key issues such as transport, taxation and business regulation hear the voice of our members. The representation of our members’ views is central to the work of the policy team at the Chamber; these views are gathered in a range of ways including our local councils, policy committees, sector councils, the main Chamber council, focus groups, meetings with politicians and consultations.
The Chamber also offers a range of networking forums across Greater Manchester, free as part of membership, plus a variety of other events and services designed to benefit specific sectors or individuals and help businesses to grow.