Shadow minister on visit to Peterborough pledges Labour will ‘unleash a decade of national renewal’

Shadow Minister Darren Jones MP promised Labour will “unleash a decade of national renewal” if it wins the next election. Mr Jones, Shadow First Secretary of the Treasury, spoke during a visit to Peterborough yesterday to meet the Chambers of Commerce.

“It was a pleasure to hear from businesses in Peterborough,” he said. “After 14 years of the wrong decisions on the economy from the Conservative Party, people and businesses are worse off.

“Labour’s plans will turn the economy around and unleash a decade of national renewal.

“Workers and businesses in and around Peterborough will benefit from our plans to get Britain building again, reduce energy bills, fix our NHS and revive our high streets.”

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(The shadow minister also answered a series of questions put to him by CambsNews. You can see that video below)

Mr Jones joined Andrew Pakes, Labour’s candidate for Peterborough at the headquarters of British Sugar in the city to meet business leaders from across Cambridgeshire.

They discussed the local economy and Labour’s plans to restore economic stability.

Mr Pakes said he been working with businesses in the city on reforms to the apprenticeship levy and development of agri-technology in the region.

“The future success of Peterborough will be built on creating the right support for businesses to grow, create more jobs and contribute to city life,” he said.

Shadow Minister Darren Jones and Labour Parliamentary candidate for Peterborough Andrew Pakes visit British Sugar to address business owners at British Sugar, Hampton, Peterborough Thursday 21 March 2024. Cllr Anna Smith (left) also joined them – she is Labour’s police and crime commissioner candidate Picture by Terry Harris

“I am determined to work in partnership with local businesses to ensure we have the apprenticeships, opportunities and long-term stability Peterborough needs.”

Charlotte Horobin, CEO of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce said: “At the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce the voice of our members is at the heart of everything we do.

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“It was great to be joined by Darren Jones MP and party parliamentary candidate for Peterborough, Andrew Pakes, who came to listen to the views of our members today.

Shadow Minister Darren Jones visits British Sugar to address business owners at British Sugar, Hampton, Peterborough Thursday 21 March 2024. Picture by Terry Harris

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“We explored key topics such as access to finance, flexible training, planning and international trade. Thank you to British Sugar for hosting this insightful roundtable.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:

During his visit we put these questions to Mr Jones. You can see his replies in our exclusive video.

1: In 2010 The former chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, left a letter for his successor in the coalition government David Laws saying ‘Dear chief secretary, I’m afraid to tell you there’s no money left.

Do you expect a similar letter should you become chief secretary to the treasury in a future Labour government?

2: Tell me Darren, how bad is the British economy – is it as bad as most seem to believe?

3: The Conservative MP here in Peterborough makes great issue of what HE has done to secure investment, what HE has done to persuade Government to release funds for the city, and so on.

We know MPs have influence but what happened to collegiate working and recognising others – city council, combined authority, and many others who work together for the better good of our citizens.

4: You’re here today alongside Andrew Pakes – can you hand on heart recommend an MP’s life to him? Many MPs are quitting this time round, maybe because they feel they can’t win or maybe they have simply had enough of the way we govern?

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5: A big issue across Cambridgeshire, and elsewhere, has been the method we use to fund local government.

Will Labour change that or are we stuck with waiting till the 11^th hour each year to see what Government hands down to local councils? Surely reform of local government finance is long overdue

6; Finally, what on your visit to Peterborough has given you, or could give you, some optimism that life for our residents will be better under Labour?