Chances are that when you read this, there will be just over a fortnight until the 2024 General Election.
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, announced that there would be a General Election, some four weeks ago, on Wednesday 23rd May. During these past four weeks, there has been continuous coverage in the news, with all of the political parties and candidates vying for our cross on the ballot box.
This will be the UK’s fourth General Election in just over nine years, with a potential outcome of the country having its sixth Prime Minister since 2016. As the voice of business in Staffordshire, we’re here to connect the business community with our political representatives and that’s why we’re delighted to host a hustings event with the chance to meet the Parliamentary candidates standing in the Stoke-on-Trent Central Constituency.
Stoke-on-Trent Central is one of the country’s most marginal seats, with a winning score of less than 700 votes at the 2019 General Election. The constituency stretches from Etruria Valley to Park Hall and from Trent Vale to Stockton Brook, taking in key employment sites including Hanley, Stoke Town, Royal Stoke University Hospital and of course, Festival Park, where we’re based!
What are the main issues for businesses in Stoke-on-Trent Central? What are the key business priorities for whichever party triumphs on the morning of Friday 5th July? It’s a constituency with a significant number of retailers and we’ll certainly continue our call for a reform of the business rates system. Both Hanley and Stoke Town would welcome support to bring in more footfall and visitors, helping our hard-pressed retailers.
Stoke-on-Trent Central constituency is book-ended by areas experiencing poor air quality due to vehicle pollution. To the west at Basford Bank and to the east in Hanley/Joiners Square/Fenton. How can we improve air quality for our residents without imposing a solution which will have a negative impact on local businesses?
This is your chance to quiz the Parliamentary candidates on their policies and how they will support the local business community. Our hustings event takes place on Friday 28th June from 9AM, at our Commerce House office. Advanced bookings are essential with no walk-in delegates on the day. Please click below to book your place but don’t delay, as places are filling fast!:
Hustings – Meet your Parliamentary Candidates – Stoke-on-Trent Central – Staffordshire Chambers
The event will be hosted by Nigel Pye of I-Creation and he’ll do his very best to encourage our audience to raise a variety of questions. If you would like to raise a question anonymously, please send your question to:
declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
We have also launched our own Business Manifesto, focusing on the themes of:
– Connected Staffordshire
– Digital Staffordshire
– Global Staffordshire
– Green Staffordshire
– Skilled Staffordshire
We’ll be sharing our manifesto with all political parties. More of this in next week’s blog! Watch this space!
2024 is turning out to be a truly global election year, with the citizens of more than 80 countries going to the polls in the course of this calendar year. Voting is a precious democratic right, so whatever your political persuasion, please remember to cast your vote on Thursday 4th July.
