A LEADING business figure in Coventry and Warwickshire says firms are crying out for stability after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he will stand down.
The prime minister set out a timetable for his departure outside Number 10 Downing Street just days after Andy Burnham won a by-election in Makerfield.
Corin Crane, the chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the PM’s decision came under the weight of mounting pressure but that businesses in the region want to have certainty.
“It’s ten years since the Brexit vote and we’ve had a decade of uncertainty and instability ever since. Much of that has been driven by global events but we’ve also seen a raft of new prime ministers, which has made it extremely difficult to see a long-term vision.
“As a chamber, we avoid party politics but act as a voice for businesses to decision-makers at a local, regional and national level.
“There is absolutely no doubt, that businesses want to be able to plan ahead with a clear understanding of what the policies of the government of the day are and what they mean to the economy.
“We have welcomed some of the changes that the current Government under Sir Keir Starmer has enacted such as planning reforms to help deliver economic growth, but we’ve also made it clear the impact that policies such as raising National Insurance for employers have had.
“Ultimately, with such instability around the world, a stable foundation is what all businesses are crying out for and delivering that is the challenge for the next leader of the Labour Party – our next Prime Minister.
“So, while we might push back on policies or lobby for greater support for business, what we all really need is stability and greater certainty.”
