Labour Leader has today (Tuesday 28 May)
pledged that a Labour Government would work side by side with
business to “turn our economy around”, as he highlights the
importance of British manufacturing to social fabric of local
communities.
Visiting a business at the heart of advanced manufacturing in
Hertfordshire, Labour Leader and Shadow Chancellor met with workers to discuss
how a changed Labour Party would safeguard UK manufacturing -
part of the social fabric of so many local communities - and
bring investment and growth back to Britain after years of Tory
chaos.
The visit comes as Labour analysis of official government
statistics confirms that 74,000 manufacturing jobs had been lost
between now and the last general election in 2019.
British manufacturers face some of the highest energy costs in
Europe. Labour has set out plans to bring down energy bills by
making Britain a clean energy superpower; give businesses
certainty with our modern industrial strategy; deliver economic
stability with tough spending rules to grow our economy.
Labour have announced that they will roll out new Local Growth
Plans to towns and cities to take advantage of their economic
potential, such as those with links to defence or manufacturing.
The party has also announced plans for new Technical Excellence
Colleges to develop the skills needed to turbocharge local
growth.
Labour has also pledged to use defence procurement to strengthen
UK security and economic growth. Starmer repeated Labour's pledge
to make it 'fundamental to direct British defence investment
first to British businesses and British jobs. A strong defence
industrial strategy will be hardwired into Labour's plans to
drive economic growth across the UK.
Speaking after a keynote speech from on the economy, Labour Leader
outlined Labour's focus on
growth and national economic renewal, saying:
“British manufacturing is central to delivering
growth in our country. Not only that, it's part of the social
fabric of our communities. Local businesses are the pride of a
region. They provide a sense of belonging and purpose to its
people. They enrich local areas.
“But after years of Tory chaos, we've seen a decline in
manufacturing jobs putting working people's livelihoods at risk.
It's time to turn the page. It's time for a changed Labour Party
to bring stability back to our economy and generate investment
and growth in Hertfordshire and across the country.”
“At the heart of our plans for growth is a hard-wired belief that
only with government and business working side by side will we be
able to turn our economy around, create good jobs and build a
future for our country.”
“The choice this election is simple. Five more years of Tory
decline, or five missions for a decade of national renewal with
Labour.”
Ends.
Notes to editors:
Labour's industrial strategy:
- The Labour Party's central mission is to deliver growth that
makes all parts of our country better off. Growth that every
family and business will benefit from.
- We also know that economic strength needs partnership. State
and market. Business and worker. Our new industrial strategy has
partnership at its core because partnership is how we ensure
strong, secure growth and a fairer, greener future.
- Labour's new industrial strategy created in partnership with
business, through a statutory Industrial Strategy Council, to
maximise Britain's strengths in life sciences, digital, creative,
financial services, clean power and automotives.
A Labour Government will:
- Act fast to make Britain a clean energy superpower, leading
the world with 100% clean power by 2030
- Establish Great British Energy, a new home-grown,
publicly-owned national champion in clean power generation
- Create a National Wealth Fund to build British industry with
investments in gigafactories, clean steel plants, renewable-ready
ports, green hydrogen and energy storage
Labour's defence plans include:
- Establishing a new Military Strategic Headquarters and
appoint a National Armaments Director to make sure our forces are
ready to fight and defend Britain.
- Prioritising Military strategic leadership and defence
procurement reform to ensure our troops have the kit they need to
fight and fulfil our NATO obligations.
- Make it fundamental to direct British defence investment
first to British business and British jobs.
Labour's automotive strategy:
- The party's comprehensive plan, drafted in partnership with
industry, addresses issues at every stage of production, from
securing resilient supply chains and a skilled workforce, to
supporting British manufacturing, to removing the barriers for
consumers to transition and increase demand for electric
vehicles.
- The sector deal will secure British automotive manufacturing
for decades to come, powering two million electric cars
and secure 80,000 high skilled jobs.
Sources:
