Labour can turn Southport around says Shadow Chancellor on latest high profile visit to the town.
Southport needs a Labour Government to help revitalise the town, according to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.
Hot on the heels of the visit of Jeremy Corbyn, Southport played host to the senior Labour politician who was here to discuss ideas to regenerate the town with local business and to congratulate local party members on a series of successes since coming second in the general election last year.
Accompanied by Liz Savage, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Southport and Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson, the Shadow Chancellor met Southport BID Chief Executive Hugh Evans and Deputy Chair David Price in Wayfarers Arcade to discuss local issues and solutions for the town. Tourism was high on the agenda and severe budget cuts to the local authority were identified as a strong limiting factor in marketing the town; with varying standards of local accommodation also discussed.
The difficulties of the Conservative Government’s business rates system and how it impacted on Lord St and the town centre were also a strong topic of conversation.
Speaking to Labour members afterwards, he highlighted how Labour will reform the tax system so that corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share and look at if online giants have unfair advantages over other retailers.
He also vowed to rebuild local government services after Tory and Lib Dem cuts had seen such decline in towns and cities across the country; put investment into coastal communities and high streets to reinvigorate them and explained how Labour planned a package of support for small businesses and the introduction of the £10 an hour minimum wage that will help boost economies such as Southport’s by increasing local spending power.
Liz Savage said that the visit was significant:
“It was great to have John here straight after Jeremy Corbyn’s visit, it shows just how seriously we take Southport and its regeneration. Labour will provide the investment in services, infrastructure and people that Southport and the borough need to help revitalise the town.”
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