Outside the famous black door of 10 Downing Street in his first speech as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer declared his government would ‘rebuild Britain.’
As the City of London Corporation has done historically, and as we will continue to do, we will work with any elected government to tackle the important issues, including those outlined by the new Prime Minister.
Let me show you how we in the Square Mile can support Labour’s mission-driven government and make a real difference here and across the country.
Firstly, kickstarting economic growth. We need growth, not for growth’s sake, but because we want more high-skilled jobs, more funding for our vital public services like the NHS, and more opportunities for our young people to get on in life.
Like the Labour Party, the City of London Corporation has long recognised the importance of kickstarting economic growth nationwide. Whether raising investment levels, anchoring the UK as a leader in sustainable finance, or making the UK a digital-first economy, our Vision for Economic Growth suggests reforms that could unlock up to £225 billion of investment across the UK. Funds that could help new businesses grow, develop green technologies, and deliver for working people.
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Secondly, making Britain a clean energy superpower. Working together, public and private partnerships that excel here in the City can seize on the net zero transition to create new high-skilled jobs, lower costs for working families, and secure our nation’s green energy supply.
London is the world’s leading sustainable finance centre. With the expertise and capital that is available right here in the Square Mile, we can support projects right across the country that can transform our economic prospects and reduce our carbon footprint.
Thirdly, breaking down barriers to opportunity. Whether in charitable giving, culture, or skills, the City Corporation stands ready support Labour’s mission.
The City Bridge Foundation helps to achieve this by supporting over 1,000 organisations across London, awarding over £30 million a year to charitable organisations across the capital, funding causes from tackling child poverty to boosting gender equality.
The City Corporation supports culture for all as one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK, contributing over £130m annually. We manage world-leading assets for the public good including the Barbican Centre, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and Tower Bridge.
Skills are vital to opening up opportunities. With more skills, people will have more opportunities – it is that simple.
Yet in almost every specialist digital role, women are significantly underrepresented: in AI and data science, less than one-in-four workers are women. To help break down barriers, the City Corporation has launched a Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce to address the underrepresentation of women working in digital careers.
Working together, government and industry can ensure that everyone in the Square Mile and across the country is more prosperous – and that must be a goal worth pursuing.
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