Steve urges Chancellor to back Croydon growth bid

Croydon North MP Steve Reed has called on the Chancellor George Osborne to boost UK productivity by backing Croydon Council’s growth bid ahead of the Budget in July.

Speaking in Parliament on 17 June, Steve said that with Government support Croydon Council’s ambitious plan for the borough would create over 23,000 new jobs, build 8,000 new homes, and boost one of London’s fastest growing tech hubs.

Steve Reed told Parliament:

“It is in places such as Croydon that the Government should be looking to boost productivity. I hope the Chancellor will fully back our Labour council’s bid for a Croydon growth zone by agreeing to the local retention of business rate growth and stamp duty in order to kick-start a £9 billion programme.

“Ambitious, creative investment such as that is the first step to higher productivity and a more efficient economy.”

The Opposition Day Debate was called by Labour to raise the issue of weak productivity.

You can read Steve’s speech in full here and watch it above.