• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Tuesday October 8 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

West of England mayor to discuss regional economy with PM

West of England metro mayor Dan Norris is to meet with prime minister Keir Starmer on Friday to discuss plans for boosting the regional economy.

Dan will be attending the first Council of Nations and Regions at Downing Street on Friday (October 11).

“I was elected on a pledge to boost our region’s economy, create new jobs, and promote the West of England nationally and internationally. The coming week offers another brilliant chance to do exactly that once again: working with the Prime Minister and fellow mayors, and with investors from around the world at the International Investment Summit in London,” said Dan.

“The West of England is going from strength to strength, opening two new railway stations in as many years and securing major investment across our area. Just last month, the Mayoral Combined Authority committed £10 million to our new green investment fund. That start-up funding will attract a further £90 million of private investment to create jobs and growth, including in becoming the UK’s clean energy powerhouse.

“Our emerging Local Growth Plan will show the way to greater economic growth, while this new era of genuine partnership working with Westminster will see regional mayors given further powers to further deliver for our communities. I’m excited to showcase some of the very best of the West of England to global investors next week.”

The Council of Nations and Regions will meet for the first time on Friday, convened by the PM. It will see the first minister of Wales, the first minister of Scotland, the first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland join regional mayors from across England.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Keir Starmer said: “I’m determined to bring forward a new era of stability, trust, and partnership with businesses, investors, Devolved Governments, and local leaders to boost the economy and restore the UK’s reputation as one of the best places in the world to do business.

“I’ve set out that we will be doing things differently, and that’s exactly why we are delivering our promise to convene the first Council of the Nations and Regions as we work as one team to maximise opportunities ahead of the Investment Summit.

“No more talking shops of the past. Genuine, meaningful, and focused partnership to change the way we do business, redefine our position on the world’s stage, and unlock the whole of the UK’s untapped potential to make everyone, everywhere better off.”

Friday’s meeting follows the regional mayors meeting at 10 Downing Street (pictured) with the prime minister, deputy prime minister, and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the days following July’s general election. At that meeting, the leaders agreed to draw up ten-year local growth plans to help deliver the national government’s top mission – economic growth.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has since published its approach to a Local Growth Plan. The Local Growth Plan will be further developed with the region’s local authorities, harnessing amazing assets across many sectors in the West of England and tackling historic challenges around transport, housing, and skills to unlock our communities’ full potential.

Local leaders including Mayor Dan Norris will then join the government’s International Investment Summit on Monday, October 14, which is sponsored by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, M&G plc, Octopus Energy, and TSL. Confirmed speakers include the founder and chief investment officer from Google and its parent company, Alphabet, the chief executive officers of other major global companies.