SMMT hosted a lunch event this afternoon at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to discuss UK automotive’s contribution to the country’s economy and chief role in stimulating growth.
SMMT representatives met senior Conservative MPs, MEPs and industry stakeholders including Robert Goodwill MP, Assistant Government Whip; Jacequline Foster, MEP for the North West; Tim Yeo MP, Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.
Minister for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk MP opened the lunch, highlighting the key issues and opportunities facing the automotive industry, and its position in government’s renewed focus on the manufacturing sector. Mr Prisk added that the automotive sector was leading on exports and skills, while working with government to promote growth.
SMMT Chief Executive, Paul Everitt spoke on behalf of UK automotive, outlining industry’s full commitment to work collaboratively with government to ensure long-term economic growth. SMMT urged political decision makers to adopt a robust growth strategy and called for targeted measures that would unlock greater private sector investment into R&D, specialist skills training and plant facilities to strengthen the UK supply base.
Also attending the event were Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London’s Director of Environment and Digital London; Steve Baker MP, Member of the Transport Select Committee; Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon; Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam; Mark Lancaster TD, MP for Milton Keynes North, as well as MEPs Emma McLarkin; Rt Hon Sir Robert Atkins; Sajjad Karim; Philip Bradbourn OBE and London Assembly Members Roger Evans and Richard Tracey.
SMMT also presented a position paper at this afternoon’s lunch, detailing industry’s stance on the transition to a low carbon economy. The paper focused discussion on policies to ensure continued investment in low carbon technologies and skills training, whilst raising consumer awareness of low carbon options.
Today’s Conservative Party lunch concludes a series of Party Conference fringe events being hosted by SMMT, as the Society continues its high-level engagement with key politicians and stakeholders.
To download SMMT’s Sustainability Report, click here.
To download SMMT’S CO2 Report, click here.
