Sunday 23 October 2022
Today, Richard Burge, Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sent open letters addressed to Conservative Party Members of Parliament representing constituencies in London. As the Conservative Party enters an accelerated process to select its next leader, London businesses have grave concerns around the future of direction of the country.
With another change in Prime Minister coming at a time of acute economic pain for businesses, the London Chamber has set out five tests that MPs should use to consider who they back as the next leader of the Party, and the UK’s next Prime Minister.
These five tests for the next Prime Minister, which the LCCI put to the Conservative MPs of London, are:
- Credibility with the markets;
- Experience and ability to deliver fiscal stability and end the current market chaos;
- Willingness to engage with and listen to SMEs and businesses across London;
- Commitment to a medium strategy to address energy prices for businesses; and
- The highest standards of honesty and personal probity.
You can read the full letter here.
Richard Burge, Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said: “The chaos of the last Premiership has been a further hammer blow to business confidence and London’s global reputation. The markets have all but lost faith in the UK and British businesses are facing the worst economic headwinds in a generation. We cannot have Conservative MPs playing political games at such a critical time. Given the challenges faced by business across the UK, the national interest must come before party and personal interests. That is why I have written to London’s Conservative MPs on behalf of our members. We demand that they apply the highest standards as they determine who to support in this accelerated leadership election and ensure the successful candidate is capable of delivering the stability, clarity, credibility, and certainty businesses need to weather the storm ahead.”
ENDS
Contact:
London Chamber Press Office
T: +44 (0)20 7203 1897
M: +44 (0)7827 241528
E: press@londonchamber.co.uk