34 BusIness AUGUST 2019
Feature
A north west
wishlist for
the new PM
Businesses demand greater devolved power as Boris Johnson
is elected new Tory leader. Shelina Begum reports
N
orth west business
leaders have called
on Boris Johnson for
greater devolved
powers, investment
on infrastructure
and skills and agreater focus on domestic issues to get
the economy back on track.
The former mayor of London, who
has long cherished an ambition to lead
his country, won the contest by a
convincing margin of 92,153 votes to
46,656, with 66% of the vote. turnoutwas 87.4% among 159,320 party
members.
Johnson has the daunting task of
getting a Brexit deal through
Parliament, his most immediate
political challenge.
But north west businesses want tosee the next PM focus on matters closer
to home and expect him to ‘get down to
business’ and appoint a new cabinet
immediately.
Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-
General, said: “Business needs three
things in the first 100 days. A Brexit deal
that unlocks confidence; clear signals
the UK is open for business; and a truly
pro-enterprise vision for our country.
“on Brexit, the new Prime Minister
must not underestimate the benefits of
a good deal. It will unlock new
investment and confidence in factories
and boardrooms across the country.
Business will back you across Europe to
help get there.
“Early signals back home also matter.
From a new immigration system to
green-lighting major infrastructure,
there is no time to waste.”
Chris Fletcher, director of campaigns
and marketing at Greater Manchester
Chamber, said he expects to see Mr
Johnson ‘make realistic and deliverable
plans to reverse years of domestic
economic neglect’ for the business
community and work towards a
satisfactory outcome for Brexit.
he said: “Whilst all eyes in
Westminster have been on Brexit these
last few years, the cost to our domestic
economy has been great. our members
on a daily basis still tell us about skills
issues, poor transport infrastructure
and the ever increasing burden of
up-front taxes such as business rates.
All of which have got worse over theNew Prime Minister Boris Johnson