Your Voice, Your Vote: Does Growth Matter?

2024-07-02 05:49:55

15 hours ago

go through Ben Parker, BBC political reporter

Darren Rozier/BBC Sudbury River — South Suffolk is mainly rural and a number of factories have closed in recent years.

Many parties in this campaign have been talking about economic growth.

Economic growth is usually measured by a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

For some, more growth is a good thing.

But Dr Jon Muhlberg, who lives in Suffolk, doesn’t necessarily agree. He contacted the BBC as part of Your Voice, Your Vote ask:

“Most political parties talk about economic growth, but what exactly do they want to grow?

“Given that there is no long-term relationship between employment and GDP, they argue that we don’t have what we have now, so what else do we need?”

We asked candidates for South Suffolk’s next parliamentary term what they think.

Tom Bartlett (Liberal Democrats)

Tom Bartlett said he would like to see more people starting apprenticeships

Tom Bartlett Tom Bartlett walking his dog — Tom Bartlett said he would like to see more people starting apprenticeships

Mr Bartlett said growth depended on people wanting to live and work here.

“As a predominantly rural electorate where people’s living standards and public services have suffered so much, improving business opportunities, community wellbeing and the health of the population is vital,” he said.

“We will give local authorities the necessary powers to restore bus routes and add new ones where there is local need.

“We will establish a strategic minor surgery fund to sustain GP surgeries in rural areas and fix the broken NHS dental contract.

“Growth is what it’s all about. Each one leads to the other and benefits the other.”

Emma Bishton (Labour Party)

Emma Bishton says economic growth is Labour’s priority

Emma Bishton Emma Bishton — Emma Bishton says economic growth is Labour’s priority

Emma Bishton said growth in South Suffolk meant “significant investment in public services, the private sector and agriculture which together will deliver at least 4,000 stable new jobs here over the next five years.

“We will be repairing potholes on roads across the constituency and in the long term, we will be improving bus services.

“Local businesses will also get better access to ultra-high-speed internet under plans to accelerate the deployment of broadband and 5G.”

She added: “All of these plans have been fully costed and guaranteed not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.”

James Cartlidge, Conservative Party

James Cartledge says growth requires confidence, investment and skills

James Cartlidge, British Parliament — James Cartledge says growth requires confidence, investment and skills

James Cartledge said that to achieve economic growth we need “stability so that businesses and consumers have the confidence to invest”.

“So having inflation at 2% is good news.”

He added: “To promote investment, I believe councillors have a key role to play. For example, when the former Philips Avent factory in Glemsford closed, I worked with national government to attract the largest inward investment in the area’s history.

“I secured tens of millions of dollars in funding for a new building at Sudbury College in Ormiston and I will continue to fight for investment in education if re-elected.”

Beverley England, Reformation Britain

Beverley England says her party recognises the importance of business and agriculture

Beverley, England Beverley, England — Beverley England says her party recognises the importance of business and agriculture

Beverley England said the current state of infrastructure was “terrible” and she would push for roads to be repaired.

She will ensure “free parking is retained around shopping areas as local retail businesses are already struggling with falling rents, business rates and footfall due to the cost of living crisis”.

Ms England said she was against solar farms being built on agricultural land. “I would absolutely and vigorously oppose all of these projects – we need food security and prime agricultural land is not suitable for solar panels, brownfield/industrial sites are more suitable.”

She said she opposed plans to build miles of energy towers in Suffolk and wanted the project to be built offshore.

Also from South Suffolk is Jessie Carter, who is running for the Green Party.

The BBC attempted to contact the candidate but received no response.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay told the BBC last month that relying on gross domestic product (GDP) to judge the state of the economy was a “dull tool”.