Southport Lib Dems: Chancellor's Speech Fails to Address Growth in the North

Chancellor’s growth speech full of soundbites and plans that won’t help our town – Southport Lib Dems

The Chancellor’s speech on growth won’t help to revive Southport and is too Southern centric according to Southport Lib Dems.

Erin Harvey, Southport Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, said: “Once again we heard a speech that is full of soundbites with plans that won’t benefit people in our town.

“The Chancellor talked a lot about ripping up regulations and encouraging growth, but the key announcements about growth centred on the South, with Silicon Valley in Oxford and Heathrow expansion.

“Growth in the north was barely touched upon.  Redevelopment of Old Trafford won ‘t help get investment into our town given we don’t have a reliable or quick transport link to Manchester.

“As a country we have an ambitious Net Zero target which will create a whole new swathe of jobs and economic prospects, but investment urgently needs to be directed to this. This barely got a mention in the speech and now Government are potentially going to be distracted by years of legal wrangling over the Heathrow expansion.”

“Rather than focusing on individual projects across country, we need to focus on getting a new UK-EU trade agreement. This would turbocharge our whole economy and boost business confidence.”

Lauren Keith, Lib Dem Cllr for Meols Ward added: “The Chancellor’s speech was full of plans which could take years to get off the ground.   

“In Southport, it’s clear we will be left with a closed pier, a High Street with more shops closing as the job tax hits and business rates continue to bite, and shoddy transport links.”