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POLITICS INSIDE


BARONESS STOWELL OF BEESTON reflects on her party’s manifesto pledges


How we will deliver on our manifesto


After last May’s elections, there were those who questioned what this Government could achieve. They said that, with a majority of just 12 in the House of Commons, it would be impossible to deliver on our manifesto. For me, as Leader of the House of Lords, my task was more daunting. In the Upper


House it was the opposition parties which had a significant political majority. But contrary to what some suggested, we have already delivered a huge amount. In the first session of the Parliament we enacted 23 Bills into law. These delivered on a


wide range of the commitments on which we stood at the last election and built upon our record of support for business. We know that business rates are a concern. That’s why the Budget this year continued,


Lord Bach, a barrister who has worked in


Leicester Chambers for 25 years, is a former Leicester City and Harborough District Councillor and Mayor of Lutterworth. He was invited to join the House of Lords in


1998 and since then, has served as a Justice Minister, as well as Shadow Attorney General. On election, the keen Leicester City fan said: “I


am delighted. The week began with my beloved football team winning the Premier League and ended with me being elected to this post. There won't be many weeks like this. I’m here to serve the public of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – not just those who voted for me.” He is committed to increasing police visibility


on the streets, which he knows is so important to the public and leads to greater confidence in policing and an improved relationship between the public and the police. He is also determined to see the increased


reporting of, and support for, victims of domestic violence, hate crime, cyber crime and antisocial behaviour. He said: “Being PCC is a full-time job but I do


not intend to take an extended leave of absence from the House of Lords. “The Police and Crime Bill will reach the Lords


very soon. I would still like, very occasionally, to be able to speak on matters relating to policing and crime. I think that would be advantageous. “I realise there’s a lot to do to make the


communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland safer but I want to acknowledge all the good work carried out by my predecessor, Sir Clive Loader. “There’s a significant amount of work still to


do and I’m eager to get on with it.” Voter turnout in the three counties’ PCC


elections was low. In Nottinghamshire, only 21.4% of those registered to vote did so. In Leicestershire, turnout was 19.8%. Derbyshire was marginally higher, at 23.2%, although there were also local authority elections in Derby City and Amber Valley.


and indeed made permanent, our decision to double business rate relief, meaning that around 600,000 small firms pay no rates at all. Our Employment Allowance has


’Corporation Tax has now been cut from 28% to 20%. This is the lowest in the G20’


made it easier to take on new staff. It has cut the jobs tax of every business by up to £3,000, taking 90,000 employers out of paying National Insurance. And to ensure that we continue to attract investment and companies to Britain,


Corporation Tax has now been cut from 28% to 20%. This is the lowest in the G20 and we have committed to cutting it to 17% in 2020. These measures deliver our long-term economic plan, which is working for this country.


Britain is forecast to grow faster than any other major advanced economy and the Midlands plays an important role in this. Private sector employment in the Midlands grew three times faster than London and


the South East. It is only by supporting business and continuing to strengthen the economy that we can deliver security for working people, increase life chances for the most disadvantaged and pay for the public services we rely on. That’s why the recent Queen’s Speech, which set out what we plan to do over the second


session of Parliament, contained a raft of measures to back business and enterprise. These include the Digital Economy Bill, which will ensure Britain remains at the


forefront of the 21st Century global economy. It will enable the building of world-class digital infrastructure, support new digital industries


and deliver on our pledge to create a Broadband Universal Service Obligation - giving all citizens and businesses the legal right to have a fast broadband connection installed. The Local Growth and Jobs Bill will give local councils the power to retain 100% of their


business rates and strengthen their ability to cut rates for local firms, giving them a greater incentive to support business and develop their local economy. And the Modern Transport Bill will help maintain the UK’s world-leading transport


manufacturing base. The UK exported 1.2 million cars last year, with key manufacturers like Toyota based here in the East Midlands. This Bill will support the development of autonomous and driverless vehicles to ensure


that we keep Britain at the cutting-edge of technology and secure highly-skilled jobs. As each of these Bills come before the House of Lords I, alongside my Conservative


colleagues, will be working hard to ensure that we deliver all these commitments as we continue to build a stronger and more competitive economy.


ABOUT BARONESS STOWELL Tina Stowell was born and raised in Beeston, Nottingham. She worked at the MoD and then the British Embassy, in Washington DC, before


returning to work in John Major’s Downing Street press office. She ran William Hague’s office when he was Conservative Party Leader and was Head of Corporate Affairs at the BBC. She was elevated to the peerage in 2011.


business network June 2016 21


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