The King of the North Heads South
25/06/2026
As Andy Burnham prepares to enter 10 Downing Street, Frank McKenna suggests that Britain’s next government is already taking shape.
Lancashire Business Frustrated at Lack of Mayor Progress
07/05/2026
Downtown in Business Group Chair and Chief Executive Frank McKenna reports on DIB’s recent Northern Power Towns Parliamentary Reception in Westminster – and the growing frustration of Lancashire business leaders at the lack of progress on the long-standing issue of establishing an elected mayor for the Red Rose County.
Downtown in Business warns that new Employment Rights Bill will hurt small firms and stifle growth
30/10/2025
Downtown in Business believes that the proposed changes risk creating additional costs, uncertainty, and bureaucracy for small businesses that are already facing rising inflation, increased regulation, and economic uncertainty.
Reform UK in Birmingham: A Circus with a Serious Edge
11/09/2025
Despite Reform’s rather eccentric conference in Birmingham last week – it is time to start to take Nigel Farage and his party seriously.
DIB warns of damaging consequences of imminent employment law reforms
04/09/2025
Private sector lobby group Downtown in Business (DIB) has warned that the government’s Employment Rights Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent this autumn, will place unnecessary burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and risk undermining the UK’s business-friendly reputation.
STARMER GAMBLES ON STRONGER NUMBER TEN TEAM – AND IT COULD BE HIS LAST THROW –OF THE DICE.
04/09/2025
Parliament returned after the summer recess, the PM reshuffled his team – and within 48 hours Labour was embroiled in another unfortunate controversy. Frank McKenna suggests that Keir Starmer may be under as much pressure to keep his job as Angela Rayner is to keep hers.
Downtown in Business at MIPIM 2026
13/08/2025
Downtown in Business (DIB) has confirmed it will once again play a leading role at the world’s premier real estate and investment event, MIPIM, taking place in Cannes from 9–13 March 2026.
A Wealth Tax Would Kill Enterprise – and Bring LESS Cash Into the Treasury
31/07/2025
In his latest blog, Frank McKenna explains why a Wealth Tax would be a disaster for Growth—and leave the Treasury worse off.
KEIR’S FIRST YEAR
17/07/2025
Downtown in Business group chair and chief executive Frank McKenna offers his reflections on a special Labour Party reception hosted in London this week.
Let Lancashire Build – Or Miss an Opportunity Others Will Take
10/07/2025
Business leaders warn that failure to meet housing targets could jeopardise £5 billion cyber investment.
DIB Boss Welcomes Chancellor’s Spending Pledges – But Warns There is More To Do
12/06/2025
The group chair and chief executive of Downtown in Business, Frank McKenna, has broadly welcomed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review announcement this week- but has said that the government now needs to crack on with radical planning reforms, a transformation of the welfare system, and investment into the skills agenda if it is to deliver on its ambition for economic growth
Be Careful What You Wish For Warns Business Leader
05/06/2025
The group chair and chief executive of influential private sector lobby group Downtown in Business, Frank McKenna, has hit out at critics of the tourist levy that came into effect in Liverpool this week.