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IN VIEW


CHAMBER CHIEF STEPS DOWN


East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Professor Miranda Barker is stepping down from her role after nine years in the post.


Her deputy Louise Sydenham is also leaving the Accrington headquartered business support organisation. She has been a member of its team for 24 years, playing a pivotal role in the chamber’s development over that time.


In a statement announcing their departures, the chamber said that Miranda will now concentrate on her “passion for low carbon innovation”.


She will focus her attention on her work with the RedCAT Group – the county’s low-carbon technology innovation agency – an organisation the chamber is heavily involved in.


And she will continue her work in the national and international climate policy field, with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the UN, along with developing climate tech philanthropy.


During her time as chief executive Miranda has played a high-profile role in the county’s business community. She was a board member of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is on the business board of the new Lancashire Combined County Authority.


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An honorary professor of the University of Lancashire’s business school, she has been an active campaigner for investment in the county’s emerging energy and low carbon sector.


In 2022 Miranda was awarded the OBE for services to business and the community and in 2024 she was appointed a deputy lieutenant of the county.


She leads on climate matters for the BCC as its Climate Envoy – sitting on the government’s Net Zero Council delivery and public participation groups and leading the annual BCC international delegation to COP, featuring a strong delegation from Lancashire.


In its statement, the chamber said: “While we appreciate this is a period of change, this comes at a time when the chamber faces new opportunities and challenges as a result of local government reorganisation.


“We believe the timing of these changes will provide a great opportunity for the chamber’s new chief executive to review the chamber’s strategy to ensure it supports the changing commercial landscape for Lancashire, while at the same time continuing to build and develop local relationships.


“The chamber would like to take this opportunity to thank both Miranda and Louise for their dedication and long service and wish them well for the future.”


Miranda said: “I will continue to support the chamber and the county as a whole in its positive political positioning and driving forward the economic strengths of Lancashire.”


She also paid tribute to her deputy, saying: View from the gallery GOVERNMENT DUCKED


TOUGH CALLS ON DEFENCE By Antony Higginbotham


Former Member of Parliament for Burnley


Sometimes it’s easy to think that there must have been a quiet time in politics. A time when politics just happened in the background. I’m not convinced that ever really was the case, but social media has definitely made it feel that way.


Having served as a member of parliament through the turbulent leadership transition that followed Boris Johnson’s resignation, though, I know what these moments look like from the inside.


The briefings, the lobbying of backbenchers for support and, sadly, the inability to grip difficult decisions while the country and markets wait.


Keir Starmer’s departure after less than two years reveals a government that has repeatedly ducked the hard calls on defence, welfare and economic reform.


The Defence Investment Plan stands as


the clearest example. I have written about it twice in this column, highlighting how Starmer’s declining authority was making his position decreasingly tenable.


With welfare spending out of control and other priorities protected, the resources for a meaningful increase in defence capability were never secured.


This is not merely political mismanagement; it carries direct consequences for national security and Britain’s standing with key allies, particularly the United States under President Trump and his hawkish administration, where doubts about our spending commitments and reliability already exist.


Markets have responded predictably. The cost of government borrowing, which has been steadily rising for months, has increased further since Starmer announced his resignation, reflecting concerns that the


Miranda Barker


coming contest (or Burnham coronation) could deliver more spending pressure rather than the fiscal discipline required to restore confidence.


And with public debt already above 100 per cent of GDP, any perception that the next prime minister will avoid welfare reform or difficult spending choices will only deepen investor unease.


For businesses across Lancashire and the North, this uncertainty is damaging. Investment, supply chain and hiring decisions all stall when Westminster cannot provide clarity on tax, spending priorities and Britain’s approach to an increasingly transactional global environment.


The North needs a government capable of reconciling security requirements with growth, not one that treats hard choices as optional.


The contest ahead, whether concluded quickly or drawn out, must answer these questions directly.


Whoever leads next must show they can make the decisions Starmer could not: on credible defence funding, on bringing welfare spending under control, and on rebuilding economic and international credibility.


My experience of 2019-2024 tells me that internal drama quickly becomes external weakness. Businesses and the country deserve better than another period of drift.


antony@antonyhig.co.uk


“Louise has made an exceptional contribution in her time, playing a pivotal role in the chamber’s development, resilience and success over more than two decades.


“Both of us have immensely enjoyed working with the chamber staff and the chamber’s supporters and stakeholders from across the public and private sector.


“Over the next few months, the chamber’s board will be working closely with both of us to ensure there is a smooth handover.”


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