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TORY leader David Cameron told Black Country business bosses he would help them through the tough times when he swung into Brierley Hill to give a talk.
The smooth-talking politician delivered an hour-long speech and question and answer session at Merry Hill’s Copthorne Hotel yesterday.
Around 350 businessmen and women flocked to see the event for their chance to grill Mr Cameron on how he can help lift the region out of recession.
He told business leaders: “There’s nothing more important in Britain today than how we get this economy going again - this country is drowning in a huge pool of debt. We’re borrowing almost twice as much as when we last went bankrupt in the 1970s.
“I can’t promise the next few months are going to be easy, we have to make difficult decisions - we are living way beyond our means.
“We need a new government that’s going to be able to sort it out but I dont think there are any limits as to how successful our country can be.”
During the talk, organised by Richardsons Capital LLP, he unveiled a five-point plan on how he hopes to bounce the economy back - and top of the agenda was to ensure Britain keeps its credit rating.
Also on the list was to make “Britain open for business”; have a proper and safe banking system by giving the Bank of England power to regulate financial institutions; reform public services by opening them up to competition and to “modern ways of transparency” - and to balance savings, investment and export.
He also told business bosses he hopes to make it easier for new firms to recruit by ditching National Insurance contributions for the first ten employees.
When asked about his stance on caring for the elderly, he suggested a “voluntary insurance style scheme” whereby people could set aside £8,000 for when they retire to help pay for care and to help avoid the need to sell their home.
He also told the audience he’d like to see every government spend (local and central) above £25,000, and the big salaries of public sector bosses, posted online, so people could “see exactly where the money is going”.
Ian Brough, for Richardsons Capital LLP, said the event had proved a big hit and had encouraged “positive dialogue to stimulate business development”.
David Cameron (Leader, Conservative Party), Carl Richardson (Richardsons Capital LLP) –
Presentation of Staffordshire Crystal
Ian Brough (Richardsons Capital LLP), Carl Richardson (Richardsons Capital LLP), Simon Topman (Acme Whistles), David Cameron (Leader, Conservative Party), Lord Cobham, Michael Worley (William King)
David Cameron (Leader, Conservative Party)
RSM Tenon
Mike Bird, Tim Magee (Richardsons Capital LLP) , Cllr Ann Millward (Leader, Dudley Council),
Cllr Mike Whitby ( Leader, Birmingham City Council)
Peter Luff MP, Norman Price, Peter Tomlinson
Lord Cobham, Simon Topman (Acme Whistles), Michael Worley
Richards Edwards (Deloittes), Dave Sankey, Ashley Hollinshead
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