Businesses want active growth policy

challenging but would, if successful, be far more beneficial for UK plc. Whatever the colour of the next Government, we would support it in developing an active policy approach which boosted growth in Yorkshire.

“The Tory plans do not yet explain how they would build a proper high-speed rail network serving the whole of our region at the same time as funding more immediate road and rail priorities.

“They do not convincingly set out how they would deliver their ambitious promise for super fast broadband. They are not clear about whether the business community or local authorities would lead the economic regeneration of our region and which powers they would shift out of Whitehall.”

Mr Pontone said there was a “great deal” in Tory proposals which “chime” with the chambers’ manifesto they are using to lobby all political parties, highlighting a pledge to tackle excessive regulation, ease the burden of corporate taxation and promote exports as “positive steps to rebalance the UK economy”.

Shadow Treasury Minister Mark Hoban said: “We have set ourselves a transparent benchmark of raising the private sector’s share of the economy in every region.”

The commitment to helping the North’s economy thrive was demonstrated by, among other things, the creation of the Northern Board and a pledge to bring high speed rail to Leeds and other northern areas.

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