Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says Labour would look at bringing more Government jobs into Staffordshire and provide a quicker turnaround on improving the county’s transport network if they win the next election.
Speaking after a questions and answers session with local business leaders at Port Vale FC yesterday, the Shadow Secretary of State also said he was committed to help embattled small businesses and would continue pushing legislation to assist sectors such as the ceramics industry.
Mr Reynolds, who was joined by British Chambers of Commerce Director General Shevaun Haviland on stage for the event organised by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, answered questions on a range of topics.
They included ending a culture of late payments to SMEs, cutting export red tape, skills issues, the green economy, energy costs, land value capture and National Insurance and tax.
He told the audience: “I am only too aware of the sleepless nights and personal anguish business owners are facing.
“Factors like late payments need to be tackled and we absolutely need to move away from a situation of low investment, poor growth and productivity. The Government also needs to be a better customer for small businesses. These are all thing Labours plans to tackle.”
Speaking to Daily Focus after the session he said: “I really enjoy talking to businesses in places like Staffordshire. People don’t always appreciate some of the brilliant local companies here.
“Obviously, Levelling Up was a big thing here in the 2019 election, but for me you really achieve change by providing firms with the ability to create good jobs and opportunities in really significant sectors. That is progressive industrial strategy and a place like this needs that.
“The iconic nature and history of ceramics in the Potteries will always be here and we will do everything possible to help it continue to prosper.
“But there are a lot of new and cutting-edge businesses that I have come across today from clean water, life sciences and green energy. The local service sector is also under-appreciated whether that be independent brewers or legal and financial services.
“This is an area of innovation and graft – people get on and get things done and I think there are great ambitions and opportunities for private businesses.
“But we also need to make sure Government and national institutions play a part in that. I absolutely think our national institutions should have a UK wide presence.
“The Department for Business and Trade is relatively new but the opportunity to bring jobs into other areas of the country like this is something I will look at. I need the chance to talk to the civil service and get the detail on how we do that, but we will look to do that.”
In terms of the county’s transport infrastructure following the announcement to cancel Phase 2 of HS2, he said: “I know how frustrating it is. I know what it means when you feel like you are on the periphery and the projects and the funding don’t seem to be coming your way.
“A big part of what we are looking at it is how the planning system for infrastructure in the UK costs a lot more and takes longer to build than abroad. Both factors come together to make projects slow to get off the ground and can be susceptible to frequent changes – like HS2.
“We have got to do more in terms of building infrastructure quicker and more cost effectively – we need to do the simple things right.”
Referring to much called for improvements to the M6 junctions and A50/A500 corridor he added: “While it is out of my departmental remit I know that moving forward with improvement projects like these – and quickly – is definitely something we’re looking at.
“One of the reasons is because any improvements to local infrastructure here also have a national benefit because of the geographic location of Staffordshire.”
Finally, on the general election he added: “Well, it could still be May 2, we’ve got until the 26 March to find out!
“I think the country wants a choice and as quick as possible. It’s not just frustrating for politicians – the chaos has a price for business locally and further afield. It affects international investors and some of the soap opera stuff we have seen has a real cost to it.”
