Do you remember Brenda from Bristol and her now iconic reaction to finding out from Jon Kay during a BBC interview that there was to be a snap General Election in 2017? Looking back now at the immediate post-Brexit referendum period in politics, Brenda’s reaction pretty much summed up the nation’s mood.
Fast forward to the present day and I’ve felt a bit like Brenda these last few weeks, as the government has been busy pumping out policy announcement after policy announcement. First was the Spending Review, then a few days later the Infrastructure Strategy and finally a few days after that the Industrial Strategy.
For the casual observer (if such a thing exists with over 600 pages of government policy to wade through) there’s a lot of policy making with good intentions and ambitions. The Growth Mission and the Plan for Change are still top of government’s to do list. The Spending Review is basically the pot of money needed to be spent over the term of parliament, up to 2029, to fulfil this ambition and the two strategies break this down into what it will be spent on.
On paper, it’s encouraging: a coherent strategy, serious investment, and recognition of the challenges facing business. It all sounds good and you can’t really object to any of it. Our main issue is the continued absence of critical sectors such as construction, logistics, health and social care, retail and hospitality in the Industrial Strategy. But the surrounding changes to the operating environment, around legislation changes should have a positive impact on all businesses.
But at our recent Summer Assembly, business leaders seemed strikingly unmoved. When asked whether the government was on the right track after a year in power, enthusiasm was lukewarm at best. Surely the evidence is that the government wants the economy to grow, to get more people in work and get businesses expanding?
So why the disconnect?
It could well be the long shadow of last autumn’s budget.
The sharp rise in Employers’ NICs, sweeping tax changes, and a bump in National Living Wage - all landing simultaneously in April. It was a triple blow, and businesses are still reeling. While government targets growth, many businesses just feel satisfied with getting through the day to day, keeping customers and watching the cashflow. Add in the uncertainty around tariffs, the continued impact of Brexit on trade and it’s little wonder that one business owner told me that they feel all the government announcements, plans and strategies have simply ‘…passed them by.’
And there’s more to come: a Small Business Strategy in the Autumn; a Trade Strategy at the same time; and the new Employment Rights Bill entering its final parliamentary stages. Add to that a slew of sector-specific strategies and it's a bit of a policy onslaught.
If strategies and announcements powered economies we’d be in a very good place.
Don’t get me wrong there are lots of opportunities out there, the GM economy is still looking healthy…but it could and should be better. So, is there a way to make that happen?
Cue the Greater Manchester Strategy 2025 – 2035. Yes it’s another strategy (I can hear Brenda now…) but this one hasn’t come from the corridors of Westminster - it’s local, grounded, and shaped by those who live and work here.
Launched on 9th July it sets out in seven clear workstreams how GM will tackle a range of challenges from addressing digital gaps, to giving more young people a clear pathway to future careers, from ambitious expansion of local transport networks to boosting overseas trade. It’s based on two simple principles – grow the economy and make sure people can live well. At its core is the concept that by working together we get things done. Not rocket science but a critical message in current times.
It’s not flawless, but it resonates. It feels a lot more real and more aligned with the concerns of local people and businesses. The targets are ambitious, and the path won’t be easy, but it’s the right foundation for everything that follows.
It is a little chicken and egg – which should take priority - national strategies or Greater Manchester’s? Personally, I know where I stand. It’s not about rejecting national policy but adapting it with purpose. If it fits, great; if not, we build our own.
Some may view that as a bit arrogant, maybe it is but let’s be honest the whole point of devolution is local decisions by local people with local impact. If we don’t do it then I’m sure nobody else will.