Call for specifics on plans to drive growth
BUSINESS chiefs have urged the Prime Minister to be more specific about how he plans to drive growth in the UK, as he pledged to re-establish economic stability, tackle inflation and boost innovation.
Tony Danker, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said it was “great” to hear Rishi Sunak speak about his “deeply held convictions and passion” for innovation, as well as the benefits it can reap on the economy.
But he said the PM only began to lay out his vision for a “new approach” in a speech to the CBI’S annual conference on Monday, as he called for more detail to help businesses invest with confidence.
Mr Sunak also largely avoided directly answering the CBI’S demands for immigration to be used to plug gaps in the domestic workforce, saying the UK’S focus is on tackling the small boats crisis.
However, he did say that he wants to ensure Britain is a “beacon” for the “best and brightest”, vowing to create “one of the world’s most attractive visa regimes for entrepreneurs and highly skilled people” as he set out plans for artificial intelligence experts to come to the country.
Downing Street later said businesses were being encouraged to invest in Britons rather than rely on workers from overseas.
Mr Danker said: “It was great to hear the Prime Minister’s deeply held convictions and passion for innovation, and the role it can play as one of the most important drivers of the UK’S future economic growth.
“The Prime Minister started to lay out a vision for a new approach. But what we didn’t get today are the details of the measures to achieve it. Businesses are making investment decisions now and need to hear more on this agenda as soon as possible.”
The CBI director-general has said a more liberalised stance on immigration is needed to help boost economic growth.
But Mr Sunak said: “The country’s number one priority right now, when it comes to migration, is tackling illegal migration.
“When people see that happening, it undermines trust in the system, it doesn’t seem fair that people are able to break the rules.
“That’s what I’m absolutely determined to fix.”