Local MPs have welcomed today’s earlier announcement that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is to be invited to form its own Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Commenting, Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell & Newquay, said:“Cornwall is unique in so many ways and faces an exceptional slate of issues and problems. That is why we have always done best when standing on our own two feet rather than being the end-of-the-line in a region stretching as far as Bournemouth.
“Today’s confirmation is great news. I believe it will give us the best possible chance to grow our local economy and receive meaningful extra investment for Cornwall.”
“Cornwall is better when it stands up for itself”
Dan Rogerson, MP for North Cornwall, added: “Liberal Democrats have been fighting for a Cornish Development Agency for decades and it is no surprise that under a Lib Dem Secretary of State we have finally succeeded.
“The new Partnership has a huge job ahead of it in building upon the work of Objective One and convergence funding programmes to deliver a prosperous future for Cornwall and I look forward to working alongside the Partnership to deliver that.”
And Andrew George, MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Cornwall has unique opportunities and challenges. Rather than being held back and having to compromise against our interests, we can promote our brand, and build on our strengths.
“Cornwall is better when it stands up for itself. That’s how we secured Objective One over ten years ago. This is good news. But we must now get down to the task of delivering jobs and growth.”
Probably not a typo Nick. I tend to agree with John.
A very confused man whose strings are being pulled by others
I’m assuming that it was a typo from Mr George’s office and have taken the liberty of changing it. At least, I hope it was a typo!
When I read “This is good news. But we must NOT get down to the task of delivering jobs and growth.” I thought it was a typo, but then I remembered Mr George’s increasingly bizarre and harmful stance on the IoS Ferry Terminal and realised that he probably means it.
This is indeed a very promising start but the problem now is the simple matter of representation. How will the LEP be established? Who will decide the who members the LEP will be? How will it work strategiaclly and opeartionally and of course will it have a budget?
If this body is to gain general acceptance it must be truly representative of all business in Cornwall and all business sectors in Cornwall. It must also represent community interest and the 3rd sector. It cant simply be the usual suspects, great and good as they may be, we must learn from the past – it must be innovative.
LEPs will simply fall quickly into disrepute if they become another quango. We need new people with new thinking and mostly a commercial mindset.
Granted there was not much time to consider these issues when the LEP announcement was first made but now is the time for considered decisions not convenience or dare I say favouritism!
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