Ipswich: Pressing politicains to put Greater Ipswich first
Dave Muller of Suffolk New College, for EADT Business Awards 2013 - Credit: Archant
Town Topics with Ipswich Chamber of Commerce
By the time you are reading this we’ll know from Westminster what was in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget, who are the winners and losers and what new measures are in place to support business.
Whatever is in there, what we do know is that it is likely to be the last significant Budget and the most important statement for firms and all of our finances ahead of the General Election in May 2015.
Why is that important for business?
It usually means that whatever party is in power, a Budget before Polling Day is one that ‘gives’ more than it ‘takes.’
While of course that is welcome, the business community needs to see it as only part of what we need from our national decision makers.
The Budget and the Finance Bill are annual events, in March or April, in part because income tax and corporation tax are annual taxes and have to be renewed each year.
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In an election year, after a chance of Government, a new budget will be set by an incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer, even if the previous Chancellor has already set one.
With an election around the corner we all need to be making sure we are asking our politicians, both current and ‘would-be’, what they will do to support Greater Ipswich in the next five years.
There is no doubt that business leaders, public sector representatives and locally elected officials are working harder than ever to ensure that the town welcomes new investment and new jobs.
With election campaigns on the horizon we must ensure that whoever seeks our vote is doing all they can to make the clarion call for our county town at Parliament.
The Prime Minister was right when he said that the private sector would lead the UK out of recession.
Businesses in Greater Ipswich and across Suffolk don’t want hand outs from the Government.
What they do want is measures and support that empower growth, encourage investment and place towns like Ipswich at the heart of the future of our nation.
Dave Muller
Chair
Greater Ipswich Chamber of Commerce
