Election candidates give us their views

There is absolutely no doubt that the General Election campaign is underway at a national level and it’s begun in earnest in this area too.

The Chamber is hosting events with Parliamentary candidates across the region and it was the turn of the prospective MPs for Leamington and Warwick to state their case to businesses last week. We were delighted to welcome Chris White (Conservative), Lynette Kelly (Labour) and Alastair MacBrayne (UKIP) to the Holiday Inn, Tachbrook Park, to hear their views on growing our economy.

It was also a chance for businesses from a good cross section of sizes and sectors to let our candidates know the issues they are facing and what they require from our MP and, indeed, the next Government.

The Chamber is not party political but is a voice for businesses in this region so it is our role to ensure that companies from across this patch are heard at a local,regional and national level.

Many of the issues discussed will, I am sure, be very similar to those debated up and down the country by businesses – skills, our position in Europe, infrastructure, apprenticeships and a wide range of other topics that affect a company’s ability to grow.

The view of business is important. While companies themselves don’t get a vote, our ability to create wealth and jobs is, ultimately, what pays for the public services we all rely on.

If any businesses in the area didn’t get chance to attend the event last week, we have another opportunity to meet prospective MPs in the area in March. The candidates for Kenilworth & Southam will be joining us at The Holiday Inn (Kenilworth-Warwick) on Friday, March 6, 8-9.30am.If anyone would like to attend, email [email protected] j

Finally, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is holding its business and trade expo at the Ricoh Arena on Friday, March 13, from 10am until 3pm.