Manufacturers’ manifesto calls for fresh approach from government to build new economy

Publishing its 'Manufacturing Manifesto – Back at the Crossroads', EEF says it believes that the next government faces difficult choices about rebuilding and rebalancing our economy. It therefore needs a clear and credible strategy for growth, as the decisions it makes in the first 100 days will have lasting implications for the UK's prosperity. EEF says its manifesto provides a strategy to grow markets and stimulate investment in innovation and skills, to repair the public finances and minimise the pain of decarbonising our economy. Commenting, EEF director of policy, Steve Radley, said: "At the start of the last decade, EEF warned that the UK's economy was at a crossroads: either we grew our manufacturing base or our economy would suffer. After a painful and prolonged recession, the UK is back at that crossroads. "We need to look again at what sort of economy we want in the future and how we get there. Yet, the current economic and political debate is stale, glossing over complex yet pressing practicalities of how to rebuild and rebalance our economy, how to repair the public finances and how to create jobs and boost investment. "And more people are beginning to realise the scale of the challenge, the value of manufacturing and the need for a strategic approach. But the current debate is rooted in dated images of industry that simply do not recognise why modern manufacturing remains successful and fail to grasp what it needs to thrive in UK. "By putting manufacturing at the heart of healthy economy, our manifesto is a clear, practical strategy for building a more prosperous Britain." The manifesto includes demands for: • Focused, consistent strategy • More effective, cheaper government. • Framework for growth • Enhanced labour market flexibility • a competitive, predictable tax system • a remedy for weaknesses in our skills system • action on energy and waste infrastructure needs • investment in innovation • better business support