London business leaders today called on Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour administration to make “growth, growth, growth” its urgent top priority as City markets took the landslide in their stride.
John Dickie, chief executive at BusinessLDN, said: “Now it has secured an historic mandate, the new Labour Government is right to prioritise growth, growth, growth. The capital’s businesses stand ready to work in partnership with Sir Keir Starmer and his team to help the UK economy secure lift off.
“Close collaboration with the private sector will be vital to turn around the fortunes of a high-tax, low productivity economy with dire government finances and stretched public services.”
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the capital’s business community was looking forward to a “fresh start” in its relations with Government after years of what many companies have seen as an anti-London agenda in Whitehall.
LCCI chief executive Karim Fatehi said: “We look forward to working with Government over the coming years to build a London where businesses of all sizes thrive.”
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said that “we need to see Labour deliver on its commitments, and quick,” after the party secured its victory.
City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said: “To realise Labour’s bold ambition to make Britain a clean energy superpower, private sector finance must play a central role. Working together, public and private partnerships must seize this historic opportunity to transition to net zero, creating new high-skilled jobs, cutting energy costs for families, and securing our nation’s green energy supply.
“Our work is diverse and wide ranging across Labour’s five missions, from raising investment levels to delivering high-quality services, boosting young people’s social mobility, and managing key assets for the good of the nation.
“Working together, the City Corporation and the Government can, and will, deliver high-skilled jobs, opportunities, and economic growth right across the country.”
Emma McClarkin CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association said:“It is imperative for any government to provide a sustainable and proportionate fiscal and regulatory framework that allows the sector to thrive. It must now cut beer duty and urgently reform business rates for the sector.”
