Following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Make UK has called on the next government to avoid a prolonged period of political uncertainty and focus on the urgent economic challenges facing UK industry.

Stephen Phipson CBE, CEO, Make UK said:

“With yet another change of Prime Minister the last thing business will want is a protracted summer of political infighting and internal navel gazing when we are at such a critical time for the economy and, there are so many big ticket issues to address. 

“Any new administration must now be serious about tackling the hugely important issues we face which are acting as a drag on growth. Firstly, this must be getting the cost of industrial energy down whilst, at the same time, enhancing our resilience by opening up the North Sea and giving firms real incentives to move towards a renewables led future. 

“This must be followed by a determined effort to reduce the unsustainable welfare bill and commit to a fully funded Defence Investment Plan as a matter of urgency. The new Prime Minister must also seriously rethink the additional employment burdens and costs which have been imposed on business and led to the shameful number of young people not in education, employment and training. At the very least, some of these more onerous measures should be pushed back. Manufacturers stand ready to work with the new administration to bring the positive growth to the economy we urgently need to see.”