Yorkshire ‘being failed by economic strategy’

The shadow business ministerial team of John Denham and Chuka Umunna visited companies in the city yesterday to discuss what is needed from Government to improve their chances of success.

The party is carrying out the policy review How Britain can lead the world in enterprise and skills and ensure no region is left behind which will inform the wider economic policy review coordinated by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.

Mr Denham said the Government needed to work closer with business and admitted this is something his party “could have done better” when it was in power.

“The key is for government and business to work closer together to create the right conditions for growth. Once you have done that the best thing to do is just let business get on with it.

“This Government is failing the regional economies. They are taken away the things that were helping – such as the regional development agencies.

“They have also taken money out of the regions which have the weakest economies without putting anything in its place.”

The policy review will focus on areas where Government can help businesses, including support for small firms and entrepreneurs.

The shadow Ministers yesterday visited Leeds-based company Surgical Innovations which makes advanced surgical equipment and has quadrupled its workforce in the past three years. The group also visited Asda and spoke with the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Mark Goldstone, head of business representation and policy at the chamber, said: “It was very much a listening exercise on their part.

“It was good to meet with the group, they mainly wanted to know how things could be improved and what we wanted from Government.”