BCC sets next Government 90 day challenge to prove business credentials

With the General Election just days away, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has challenged the next government – whatever its composition – to put business at the very heart of its thinking from day one in charge.

The BCC has published a 90 day plan for business growth, a prescription to return our economy onto a sound and sustainable footing. The organisation argues that failure to implement these measures will mean a slower, or even non-existent, recovery.

The 90 day plan would deliver growth for Britain by promoting policies that give business the freedom and support it needs to drive recovery.

The twelve proposals include helping to mend the public finances by freezing the public sector wage bill; maintaining investment in productivity-boosting infrastructure, a moratorium on costly new employment laws; and boosting exports with a short-term export trade finance scheme, to help companies rebalance the economy.

The BCC argues that if the election results in a hung parliament, the main parties must put political horse-trading to one side and show leadership to deal with the serious threats still facing the UK economy.

Commenting, David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“We will be judging the performance of the next government against its delivery of a clear plan for business. Putting business growth at the very core of a new administration’s thinking is fundamental to returning our economy to health quickly, and for the long-term.

“Sorting out the dismal state of our public finances must be at the very top of the agenda. The phoney war between the parties must end, and as the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown, the parties must be crystal clear about where spending cuts will fall.

 “During the first 90 days after an election, an incoming Government must make concrete proposals to reduce red tape and tax burdens on business; review how to move the economy away from an over-reliance on consumption and the public sector; and commit to improving Britain’s energy, transport and digital infrastructure.”

Ends

Media Contact:

Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

The BCC’s 90 day plan for business growth after the election can be found here. The points are also copied below.

Returning our public finances to health
1. Publish a credible plan to reduce the budget deficit and restore confidence
2. Freeze public sector wage bill and reform public pensions
3. Implement measures to promote stable access to finance for viable companies

Boosting employment
1. Cancel the planned employer NICs rise – a ‘tax on jobs’ – in full
2. Pledge not to introduce any burdensome new employment laws before 2014
3. Begin a systematic review of existing regulations affecting employers

Better infrastructure
1. Avoid deep cuts to infrastructure projects that support business growth
2. Stabilise and de-politicise the planning system, giving businesses confidence to invest
3. Deliver a radical plan for next-generation business broadband by 2040

Growing trade and exports
1. Prime Minister to set out a focused vision for a strong export economy
2. Strengthen UKTI based on the principle of national strategy and local delivery
3. Introduce a short-term scheme to address market failures in export credit insurance

- The BCC’s plan follows on from its business manifesto, Delivering for Britain, which was released last September. You can find the manifesto here - http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/zones/policy/press-releases_1/bcc-warns-party-leaders-give-business-the-freedom-to-drive-uk-recovery.html

- David Frost is available for interview.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.

The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people