Put London at heart of your plans and we can lead Britain to growth, say business leaders

LONDON business leaders today called on the Government elected on July 4 to put the capital back at the heart of its economic strategy to help drive the country's growth.

- Jonathan Prynn

Many senior executives complain that the interests of London have been downgraded at the expense of the Northern and Midland pro-Brexit "red wall" towns and cities that delivered Boris Johnson his 80-seat majority in December 2019.

They cite the business rate system and the abolition of tax-free shopping for foreign tourists as examples of policies that have disadvantaged businesses in the capital. Karim Fatehi, CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "With a short election campaign about to begin, our political parties need to focus on what matters most to businesses - the key drivers of our economy.

"London's business community calls on the political parties to prioritise the issues that are hindering growth, such as skills shortages, an unfair business rates system, infrastructure planning and high crime rates.

"Policy makers must recognise that when London's businesses succeed, the whole country prospers.