John McDonnell to set out Labour’s plans to boost the economy of Britain’s coastal communities during visit to Blackpool

EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001Hrs, Saturday 1st December 2018

 

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, will hold a ‘Road to Rebuilding the Economy’ conference in Blackpool on Saturday, to highlight Labour’s plans to rebuild the economy and raise living standards in Britain’s coastal communities

John McDonnell’s visit is part of his nationwide tour to promote Labour’s plans to deliver a fair tax system, making the wealthiest 5 per cent pay more and tackling tax avoidance to revive the economy and raise living standards in our cities and towns.

The Shadow Chancellor will be setting out plans to tackle poverty and social deprivation in coastal resorts this Saturday at an event in Blackpool.

While in Blackpool, John McDonnell will also visit a small business to mark Small Business Saturday. He will point to research by PwC and the Local Data Company which has revealed that Blackpool has had one of the highest number of stores close in 2018, and say Labour’s five point plan for British high streets will help “breathe life” back into our struggling town centres.

Responding to reports that fracking at the Preston New Road fracking site in Blackpool has triggered a series of minor earthquakes recently, John McDonnell will also say that "Labour will ban fracking when we go into government". 

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, is expected to say:

“Eight years of austerity have hit many coastal towns like Blackpool very hard.

“Areas like Blackpool have not been treated fairly when it comes to government investment.

“My aim is to ensure that Blackpool receives its fair share of government funding to grow a vibrant and prosperous local economy.

“Our struggling high streets are one of the clearest symptoms of the government’s failure to invest in our communities.

“Labour’s five point plan for British high streets will help breathe life back into our struggling town centres.

“And Labour will deliver a fair deal for Blackpool and Britain’s coastal communities.

“We will increase income tax on the top 5%, the people who can afford it, who can pay a little bit more.

"But also tackle tax dodging and reverse some of the giveaways to the corporations.

“Only Labour will tax the rich and giant corporations to end austerity, fund our public services properly, and rebuild our economy so it works for the many, not the few."

Ends

Notes to editors

• Town Seminars schedule for 2018: 8th December - Airdrie & Shotts

• John McDonnell is working closely with Labour's Community Organising Unit, which is active in several constituencies on the shadow chancellor's "Road to Rebuilding the Economy" anti-austerity tour. More about Labour's Community Organising Unit can be read here: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-to-train-members-in-special-campaign-skills-as-jeremy-corbyn-pushes-for-snap-election_uk_5ba66170e4b069d5f9d352db 
  
  
• The participatory events involve John McDonnell and the Shadow Treasury team listening to local people and already thousands of citizens have participated from Pudsey to Broxtowe, Mansfield and Hastings to develop Labour's next manifesto from the ground up.  

• Today (Small Business Saturday), Ian Lavery MP, and Labour’s community organisers will kick off their listening campaign on Britain’s high streets. 12 members of Labour’s Shadow Cabinet will also be visiting small businesses around the country.

• Community organisers from the Labour Party will be building local campaigns to advocate for shopkeepers, workers and shoppers.

• Other speakers at the conference include Blackpool South Labour MP, Gordon Marsden, and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, Chris Webb, who is seeking to overturn a Tory majority of 2,023 in the constituency.

• Labour’s 5 point plan to support Britain’s high streets:

1. Ban ATM charges and stop bank branch and Post Office closures
2. Improve local bus services and provide free bus travel for under 25s
3. Deliver free public Wi-Fi in town centres
4. Establish a register of landlords of empty shops in each local authority
5. Introduce annual revaluations of business rates, ensure a fair appeals system and review the business rates system to bring it into the 21st century.

• A cross departmental working group lead by Bill Esterson, Shadow Business Minister has been convened to look into long term support for our high streets and town centres.