Prospective Conservative MP Jackie Doyle-Price has given her support to small businesses and has pledged to fight for better conditions for business to thrive.
Following a meeting with the Essex Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Jackie said, “We desperately need to create the right conditions to enable business to grow and thrive. I congratulate the FSB for coming up with such a comprehensive package of proposals which will make a real difference to small businesses in this area. Better conditions for business means more jobs and more money in the local economy, making us all better off.
Amongst the FSB’s priorities for Thurrock are concerns regarding local transport infrastructure. They have called for major reviews of the A127 and the A13 to ease congestion and for discounts for business users of the Dartford crossing. Jackie said, “Traffic congestion costs our small businesses money. Congestion locally is a serious problem. One quick fix would be to scrap the Dartford tolls altogether. I will continue to campaign against the sell-off and against the tolls.”
More funding for apprenticeships was also a key priority. Jackie said, “I am delighted that a Conservative Government will be expanding the number of apprenticeships. We need to make sure that our young people are equipped with the skills that will bring value to them and the businesses where they work. For too long the emphasis has been on getting young people to go to university, at the expense of more on-the job vocational qualifications. This has to stop. Good vocational qualifications are key to making sure that our economy is equipped with the skills needed to fix our economy and lay the foundations for a stronger economy in future.”
