Downtown in Business hosted a Parliamentary Reception in association with Leeds and Manchester City Councils this week.
The leaders and chief executives of both local authorities addressed the one hundred plus business leaders from across the north of England who attended the event – alongside the Shadow Business Minister Johnny Reynolds MP, Manchester Central MP and Shadow Leader of the House Lucy Powell, the MP for Leeds Central and Shadow Northern Ireland Minister Hilary Benn, and James Pitt from Reception sponsor Muse Places.
The overall message from city leaders was one of optimism, with outstanding opportunities available in both West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. However, Leeds CEO Tom Riordan struck a chord with most when he commented: “The north does not have a productivity problem. We have a connectivity problem.”
DIB boss Frank Mckenna said: “This was a hugely successful event, and a timely reminder of the crucial role that cities – and the north of England – will play in the UKs economic growth moving forward. The collaboration between these two major cities was also great to see, and it would be a scandalous dereliction of duty from any future government to ignore the value of improving connectivity and infrastructure across the Pennines.”
For more on the reception read this weeks JUST JIM.
