Read: Shadow Minister for Business and Industry joins roundtable with leading Purpose Coalition businesses
Labour’s Shadow Minister for Business and Industry, Bill Esterson MP, has joined leading Purpose Coalition businesses for a roundtable to discuss the party’s approach to engaging with the business community, the importance of social mobility, and how the next Labour government can learn next practice from business.
In recent months, Labour has been working hard to promote itself as the party of business. A good set of results at the recent local elections means there is heightened interest from firms across the country in what the business landscape will look like if a Labour government took office. Companies are watching closely to see how its assurances will translate into policies that are supportive of business and that will encourage growth, should it win the next general election.
Integral to that is a frank, two-way exchange of ideas which can help shape those policies. In the latest of a series of roundtables held by the Purpose Coalition with Shadow Cabinet Ministers, the roundtable with Bill Esterson was a chance to explore how a future Labour government could work together in partnership, and how they could most effectively boost social mobility and improve equality of opportunity. With 15 years’ experience of starting and running his own businesses and of being a local councillor before becoming an MP, Mr Esterson is well-placed to hold a brief that covers manufacturing, construction and professional services and includes responsibilities for skills, levelling up and net zero.
Earlier this year Labour Leader, Sir Keir Starmer, launched five national missions which will form the building blocks of a Labour manifesto. He also highlighted the Party’s intention to work closely with partners whose expertise, experience and local knowledge will help it to deliver long-term, progressive results. Fundamental to that agenda are commitments to securing the highest growth in the G7 and to breaking down the barriers to opportunity. Those aims align very closely to the Purpose Coalition’s own mission. It has been working alongside some of the biggest businesses in the UK - as well as with universities, NHS Trusts and others - to bring together the UK’s most innovative leaders to share best practice and develop solutions that will make a difference for their customers, colleagues and communities.
There has been much constructive discussion about the role that businesses can play more widely, firstly during the pandemic and more recently to counter the challenges presented by an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. Bringing together political and business leaders means that policies can be shaped more effectively, in response to the concerns raised by industry. This latest roundtable gave businesses the opportunity to contribute directly to the debate. They heard how Labour’s approach to business has changed under its current leadership while the Labour Party was able to learn more about how the business community can help drive change. It also gave those who attended the opportunity to hear more about the Purpose Coalition’s work with the Labour Party.
Today’s roundtable is the latest in a series of events with Opposition front bench members. Recent Shadow Ministerial speakers have included the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, Jim McMahon MP, Shadow Employment Minister, Alison McGovern MP, and Shadow Minister for the Future of Work, Justin Madders MP.