Chamber urges PM candidates to help unlock region’s potential

Author - Kay Wilson

Date published:

The North East’s largest independent business organisation has set out what is needed from the new Prime Minister, when they are elected, to support regional growth and urges them to make Levelling Up a successful reality.

On behalf of its members, North East England Chamber of Commerce chief executive, John McCabe wrote to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. In his letter he made plain the opportunities in the region which he stressed is a place of ingenuity, creativity and optimism. The issues that needed to be tackled in his members’ view include the need for investment in skills, transport and public services, progress with devolution and delivery on Levelling Up.

He said: “The new Prime Minister represents the immediate future leadership of the UK. They have an unparalleled opportunity to make the North East an exemplar of Levelling Up, an agenda that the Chamber has supported long before the phrase itself was used. By backing the priorities of businesses in the North East they can demonstrate Levelling Up in action and show that they genuinely speak on behalf of all places and people across the UK.

“These calls from the business community in the region are evidence-led, pragmatic and proportionate to the scale of opportunity presented by the region. We urge both candidates, regardless of the outcomes of the race, to commit to work with us and our members for a stronger, fairer North East.”

The letter also invited the new Prime Minister, when in post, to visit the region and meet business leaders to discuss their agenda for Government.

Download a copy of the letter here.

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