Dear Sir,
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of hosting Liz Truss, visiting the award winning Crafters Companion. The business, employing over 200 people, has its headquarters in Newton Aycliffe and was created by Sara Davies with a launch product called the Enveloper and is now internationally successful and Sara is also one of the dragons on Dragons Den.
Liz, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade is also the Minister for Women and Equalities.
We met with Simon Davies, Managing Director, who explained the business to Liz and we then discussed the importance of delivering an environment free of uncertainty and the need for both politicians and business leaders to promote the strength of our businesses and in particular SME’s which are the beating heart of jobs in the UK.
We have a range of tremendous businesses, like Crafters Companion, on our doorstep and they all need to see the end of the Brexit uncertainty. As a previous business director I am well aware that uncertainty is the enemy of investment and believe that as soon as we get Brexit done we will then see our businesses invest.
It is also a fundamental part of a politicians role to not only talk about supporting business but to actually walk that walk and actively support our businesses. This would include lobbying to support business.
If elected as your MP I would challenge the North of Tyne Labour authorities on their apparent exclusion of Hitachi from the £400m contract to replace trains on the Newcastle Metro which risks our local jobs, and I will continue to support Ben Houchen, the Conservative Tees Valley Mayor, in his efforts to reinvigorate Teesside Airport, and get infrastructure investment in our region.
At a more basic level everyone has the opportunity to direct their spend towards our local businesses, an easy example for me is the printing of election leaflets. Mine were done at Newton Press, as I said you have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk, please join me in doing everything you can to support in particular our local businesses.
Paul Howell
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Sedgefield.
