海角视频

North west business leaders have welcomed news of a pre-Christmas general election and urged politicians to use it as an opportunity to break the Brexit deadlock.

The 海角视频 is set to go to the polls on December 12 after MPs backed Boris Johnson鈥檚 call for an election.

The House of Commons approved legislation by a margin of 438 votes to 20, paving the way for the first December election since 1923.

Addressing Tory MPs afterwards at Westminster, Mr Johnson said he was prepared for a 鈥渢ough鈥� election fight in the weeks ahead.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 time for the country to come together, get Brexit done and go forward,鈥� he said.

In the north west, reaction to a winter election has mainly been positive and seen as a step towards breaking long-term uncertainty.

Chris Fletcher, campaigns director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: 鈥淢any will no doubt see this as an opportunity to break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament and as a way of potentially delivering a resolution to this issue.

鈥淚t is absolutely vital though that the election does not just become a quasi-second referendum, there is a lot more at stake on the result of this than what happens with Brexit.

鈥淥ur members and ourselves have been critical of government since the referendum for basically ignoring key domestic economic and social policy issues and viewing all decisions through the lens of Brexit, soaking up resource, time and effort.

鈥淭he impact of this has been seen in our recent economic surveys and from what businesses are telling us on a day-to-day basis. It is less about Brexit and more about the day-to-day issues and lack of decisions being made that are frustrating them.

鈥淲e await to see and hear what the parties have in their manifestos. As regards our election 鈥榓sks鈥� we have worked over the last few years with businesses, partners and other organisations across the spectrum to develop key activity on our 鈥楩uture of Skills and Connectivity and Innovation for Growth鈥� campaigns and these will underpin our election work.

鈥淲e need a radical overhaul of skills, massive investment in infrastructure and more devolved powers and funding to continue to make sure the region can perform.

鈥淭his is a crucial and pivotal election and hopefully it will rebalance the next government鈥檚 priorities so whatever action is required can be quickly and effectively delivered and not lost in the quagmire of Brexit.鈥�

Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said the election offered a 鈥渙ne-off chance鈥� to break the gridlock, which she says has 鈥渂lighted鈥� the country for over three years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also an opportunity for all parties to present their visions for the 海角视频鈥檚 future,鈥� she said.

鈥淏y replacing ideology with evidence, the next government 鈥� working alongside business 鈥� can show the 海角视频 is a great place to invest, start and build a company.

鈥淧assing a good deal with the EU is the first step. Then the real heavy lifting can begin, building a future relationship with our biggest trading partner based on regulatory alignment, frictionless trade and the 海角视频鈥檚 all-important services sector.

鈥淓nding political instability will enable a renewed focus on domestic priorities, including education and infrastructure, which will transform the jobs and livelihoods of millions of people.

鈥淥nly by working together can politicians and business seize the opportunities ahead and overcome shared challenges, from technology to climate change.

鈥淭he prize is a more prosperous, sustainable and fairer United Kingdom for generations to come.鈥�

Henry Brooks, founder of the Cheshire-based Tatton Group, which brings forward mixed-use developments delivering homes, jobs and communities, asked parties for real commitment to the north in their manifestos and a focus on delivering 鈥渁 new, more domestically-focussed government鈥�.

He said: 鈥淥ur top three asks are led by investment in integrated sustainable transport infrastructure, especially Northern Powerhouse Rail and regional priorities like the Mid-Cheshire-Manchester Airport lines.

鈥淲e also want to see unlocking of growth with proper mixed-use communities around sustainable transport nodes that deliver net environmental gain, like the Bollin Valley Project.

鈥淔inally, there has to be a focus on a truly first class education including additional, world class opportunities needed to meet the potential of the Northern Powerhouse.鈥�

Karen Campbell-Williams, a partner at business advisers Grant Thornton in the north west, said: 鈥淏usinesses will welcome the vote as the first step toward the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty that has overshadowed our economy.

鈥淭he impasse over Brexit, along with global slowdown in growth, is having a real impact.

鈥淎lthough many businesses are still doing well, the dramatic fall, 56 per cent according to the OECD, in new foreign direct investment to Britain between the end of 2018 and the first half of 2019 is a real concern.

鈥淗opefully a new Government will have a clear mandate from the electorate. Britain needs to go forward and deal with the issues that matter to people - health, social equality, education and transport being chief among these.鈥�

Dr Annette Bramley, director of the N8 Research Group, expressed concern that the awkward timing for the vast student population in north west cities would impact the turnout.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important everyone has a say and votes 鈥� which means being registered, if you are not already, by November 26. Students can register to vote at both home and term-time addresses, but can only vote in one location.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a simple matter to apply for a postal vote in a university constituency if they want to vote there. It would be a shame if the timing, near the end of term, with some travelling, impacted the turnout.鈥�

Warren Ward, director of policy and international trade at the Wirral Chamber of Commerce, said: 鈥淭his general election is a real opportunity for the 海角视频鈥檚 political parties to set out a clear path on Brexit, to provide British businesses and communities with clarity on the manner of which we will leave the European Union.

鈥淎voiding a messy and disorderly Brexit must be a priority, but not the only priority.

鈥淭his is also an opportunity for 海角视频 politicians of all political persuasions to put forward their vision and plans for the future of the United Kingdom. The economy, investment in communities, reducing deprivation, preparing for the digital age are amongst many of the issues that need to be considered in this general election.

鈥淭here is an ever growing gap between our politicians and British businesses. At the end of the day, it is businesses that employ local people, create wealth and help shape communities. Politicians need to work closely with us and as a community, businesses need to ensure that their voice is being heard.鈥�

Paul Dobson, property director for Millfield Estates, added: 鈥淚鈥檓 sure I鈥檓 speaking on behalf of many people here, when I say that we鈥檙e relieved that finally something is happening, after years of back and forth and uncertainty!

鈥淥ur biggest hope is that we can finally get a deal over the line after the election; but of course there will always be the concern that if another hung-parliament is returned which results in another stalemate this never ending cycle will continue, which will benefit nobody.鈥�