Economic Growth

Gareth Snell Excerpts

Monday 7th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

Sometimes it is necessary, in order to fund improvements in our national health service and to fill the £22 billion fiscal black hole that we inherited.

[Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

Can I make a pitch to the Minister for a part of the country called the midlands, which I know that she knows well? Not everything is about the south or the north. There is a swathe of counties that form a band of engineering and manufacturing prowess in this country, from Shropshire through to Lincolnshire. They do not have the powerful mayors of the north or the economic growth that the south has had. In my constituency, the chemical industry talks to me about UK REACH double regulation, the steel manufacturers talk about the tariffs, and ceramics industry talks about access to the British industrial competitiveness scheme and the supercharger. If she wants good growth in every part of the country, including the midlands, how will we overcome those immediate challenges?

[Emma Reynolds]

Being from Wolverhampton, I agree with my hon. Friend that the midlands is a very important part of the country. He is a really powerful advocate for his area, and he will know that we have put forward a ceramics support package to ensure that his area, and others in the region, thrive.