Manufacturing Debate  

In my Observer Article this week, I discussed a debate I helped secure on the future of manufacturing in the UK and also progress on my Private Member's Bill. Next Tuesday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce the conclusions of the government's growth strategy at his annual Autumn Statement. In advance of his statement I have, alongside other colleagues, secured time for a debate in the House of Commons on the future of manufacturing in the UK. All political parties accept that we need to rebalance our economy away from consumer demand and more towards exports. If we are to achieve this, then manufacturing is the only solution. Even at the height of the banking boom in 2008 financial services only generated 30% of the exports that our manufacturers were able to achieve. Our community is particularly well placed to benefit from an increase in manufacturing. We have a rich manufacturing...