Starmer vows bonfire of pink tape to get Britain constructing forward of funding summit | EUROtoday

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Sir Keir Starmer will promise a bonfire of pink tape to get Britain constructing as he gathers international chief executives at an funding summit within the City of London on Monday.

The prime minister is pledging to “rip out the bureaucracy that blocks investment” and guarantee regulators prioritise financial progress of their decision-making.

And laying the groundwork for a wave of deregulation, Sir Keir will say: “We’ve got to look at regulation where it is needlessly holding back the investment, to take our country forward.

Sir Keir during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh
Sir Keir during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh (PA Wire)

“Where it is stopping us building the homes, the data centres, warehouses, grid connectors, roads, train lines, you name it, then mark my words – we will get rid of it.”

After a chaotic first 100 days in authorities, Sir Keir will pitch to enterprise leaders attending the gathering that Labour’s historic election win has given the federal government a “golden opportunity… to end chop and change, policy churn and sticking plasters that make it so hard for investors to assess the value of any proposition”.

He will tout the worth of a gradual, steady authorities, saying: “We have the determination, the focus on clear, long-term ends, a mission-led mindset that thinks in years, not the days or hours of the news grid, needed to unlock that potential. Do not doubt that.”

Sir Keir will plead for extra funding from enterprise chiefs, telling them “private sector investment is the way we rebuild our country and pay our way in the world”.

Sir Keir will likely be joined on the historic Guildhall within the City of London by chief executives from Blackrock, GSK and pioneering automated driving start-up Wayve.

Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer have made rebuilding ties with business a priority
Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer have made rebuilding ties with enterprise a precedence (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The summit will see ministers and enterprise leaders participate in periods discussing how the UK can increase rising industries akin to AI, clear power and the inventive sector.

Attendees will then be invited to an unique reception at St Paul’s Cathedral with the King.

The summit was hit by controversy on Friday after a key attendee, Dubai-based DP World, threatened to tug out over disparaging feedback made by transport secretary Louise Haigh about its subsidiary P&O Ferries.

Ms Haigh had referred to as the agency a “rogue operator” and mentioned it needs to be boycotted over its sudden sacking of 800 British seafarers in 2022, changing them with cheaper, primarily abroad, workers.

After a 24-hour scramble inside Downing Street which noticed Sir Keir distance himself from Ms Haigh’s feedback, DP World confirmed its chair Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem will attend the summit and a deliberate £1bn funding within the capital would go forward.

Part of the PM’s deregulation drive will see the competitors watchdog ordered to prioritise progress, funding and innovation in its work. He can even launch a assessment of the remit of different main regulators to make sure they’re centered on progress.

Ahead of the summit, Downing Street mentioned it had secured £24bn of personal funding commitments from companies within the clear power sector. Consumer well being agency Haleon has introduced a £130m funding in a brand new international oral well being innovation centre in Weybridge, Surrey, to coincide with the summit.

The occasion has been welcomed by numerous enterprise leaders who’re attending. Wayve chief govt Alex Kendall mentioned he was “delighted to join the inaugural International Investment Summit”.

“The UK has a strong opportunity to lead in Embodied AI, especially in automated vehicles. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to harmonise global regulations and scale UK innovation internationally,” he added.

Google proprietor Alphabet’s chief funding officer, Ruth Porat, added that Britain is “well-positioned to capture the many opportunities that AI can deliver”.

Ms Porat added: “The Investment Summit is an important moment to reflect on the progress to date, and how to best position the UK as a global leader in AI, with the economic and societal benefits this transformative technology can deliver today, and in the years ahead.”

Ahead of the summit, Sir Keir appointed Poppy Gustafsson, former head of cybersecurity agency Darktrace, to be his new “investment minister” in a bid to exhibit the federal government’s dedication to strengthening ties with enterprise.

She mentioned: “It’s never been a better time to invest in Britain. This summit is a hugely significant moment to showcase the UK’s economic strengths on the world stage and I’m delighted to be part of the government’s important work to drive growth and investment across the UK.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-investment-summit-labour-growth-b2628495.html