BCC comment on Miliband speech

17th February 2015

Responding to Ed Miliband's launch of the Labour Party's "Plan for Prosperity", John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "It is encouraging to see Mr Miliband set out some positive policies for business, notably around access to finance, infrastructure and encouraging long-term investment.

-Mr Miliband is right to focus on the importance of high quality apprenticeships, and collectively we can work harder to deliver more of them. We also favour giving employers more control over funding, so that companies can train apprentices with the skills to suit their needs. -For some time I've talked about the importance of supporting small and medium firms to reach their growth aspirations. It is reassuring that Labour has acknowledged the burden of local business taxation, and improving access to finance will help. -The detail surrounding these plans is important, and we will be examining it carefully to ensure that the policies proposed will support UK firms to deliver prosperity and growth for the country.