PM must address 'real life issues ' facing business - Chamber
The government must show flexibility and pragmatism to address the “real life issues ” facing businesses, business leaders said today.
Boris Johnson promised to “get on with the job ” of levelling up the UK, in his speech to the Conservative Party Conference yesterday.
And while Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce welcomed the Prime Minister 's vision for a high-wage and high-skilled economy, they urged him not to lose sight of the supply chain and labour problems facing firms right now.
The main theme of Mr Johnson 's speech was “levelling up ”, with the PM saying that reducing gaps between regions would ease pressure on south-eastern England, while boosting places that felt left behind.
He also repeated pledges set out at during his party's conference this week in Manchester to crack down on crime, improve transport links and broadband and reform the housing market.
Mr Johnson also sought to reassure Tories anxious about plans to increase National Insurance to pay for the NHS and social care.
Raj Kandola (pictured), head of policy at the GBCC, said: “Many will accuse the PM 's speech of being light on policy detail and big on rhetorical flourishes which is perhaps not surprising given the Autumn Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review are just around the corner.
“Many will also back Mr Johnson 's vision for a high wage and high skilled economy - however, the practical reality of reaching this point remains someway off and the real-life issues that businesses are experiencing right now in terms of supply chain and labour shortages are there for all to see.
“In the short term, we need the Government to address these shortages in a pragmatic fashion and that will require some further flexibility on immigration policy over the coming months.
“In the long term, it was great to hear the PM highlight the need to unleash prosperity across all parts of the country - a good way to bring this vision to life would be to back HS2 in full and to address the crippling cost pressures that firms are facing right now. ”