MPs Back Business

Date published: 26 January 2012

MPs and business leaders discussed the key issues facing local businesses at the latest Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Council meeting.

The economic outlook, High Speed Rail and youth unemployment were just some of the topics discussed at the meeting in Manchester’s Midland Hotel.

Chamber President Martin Douglas OBE said: “Chamber Council is a really important forum where we can debate the policy issues that we need to pursue on behalf of our members and with our members.

"It’s always challenging to strike the right balance between providing information and making sure we allow enough time to debate issues in detail, but this was a great meeting and I’ve every confidence that the Chamber Council will continue to go from strength to strength.”

The meeting began with an introduction by Martin Douglas, followed by an economic update by Chamber Policy Director Chris Fletcher and Chief Economist Dr Brian Sloan.

Dr Sloan said Greater Manchester’s contribution to the national economy had fallen since 2009. He added that there were export opportunities but businesses needed support to export. He also highlighted the need to re-balance the economy but warned that it would take time.

Transport Policy Manager Emma Antrobus gave an update on the Chamber’s work campaigning for High Speed Rail and the Northern Hub. Earlier this month the Chamber’s lobbying on High Speed Rail was rewarded with the news that the Government had given the route the go-ahead. The project, which was backed by 500 Chamber members, will provide a massive boost to the economy, creating an estimated 40,000 jobs.

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk and Trafford MP Kate Green gave businesses the view from Westminster.

Mr Danczuk, who is Parliamentary Private Secretary to Business Secretary Chuka Umunna, stressed the importance of MPs engaging with businesses and called for more support for manufacturing to rebalance the economy.

He said: “Greater Manchester is a great place to do business and the Chamber has played a significant role in lobbying for Greater Manchester.”

He added that local procurement, business rates, energy and credit insurance were the main issues businesses were raising with him.

Kate Green said that, as in the previous recessions of the 1980s and 1990s, there had been a sharp rise in youth unemployment. She emphasised the importance of long-term planning and competing with emerging economies.

“There is real anxiety about the future of young people. We need to be driving the economy so we can meet the competition from the new economies such as the BRIC countries.”, she said.

Both MPs took part in a question and answer session. Issues raised included the difficulty in finding suitable staff, apprenticeships, the difference between German and British economic policy and the Government’s idea of creating a “John Lewis” economy, where employees had a stake in the businesses they work for.

The MPs’ attendance at the meeting was a result of the Chamber’s efforts to increase engagement with local MPs. Future Council meetings will feature MPs from other parts of Greater Manchester.

Chamber Policy Adviser Paul Holme gave a presentation on youth unemployment, the facts behind the figures and what action needs to be taken.

Policy Director Chris Fletcher ended the meeting with an update on elected mayors.

He said: “There is a lot of misunderstanding about what having an elected mayor involves. We would not get a Boris Johnson-style mayor. The mayor would only be for the city of Manchester, not Greater Manchester as a whole. However decisions made by the mayor would effect on people living in other parts of Greater Manchester.”

He pointed out that the Government had only received 58 responses to its national consultation on elected mayors.

Businesses unable to attend the Council meeting could follow the discussions via regular updates on twitter.