BUSINESS leaders in Suffolk were the first to meet with Labour’s Shadow Minister for Competitiveness and Enterprise as the party kicked off a national campaign to meet with firms leading up to the next General Election.

Ian Wright, the MP Hartlepool, met with members of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to discuss the case for a British Investment Bank and what it needs to be doing to support firms, in the county and across the UK.

“I am delighted that Suffolk Chamber is the first business group to kick off this important process,” Mr Wright told guests at the event, held at Felaw Maltings in Ipswich.

“Labour is putting the meat on the bone of key proposals ahead of the next General Election and we are passionate that our business manifesto should be written by business.”

Mr Wright also expressed support for Suffolk Chamber’s current “Exporting is Good for Suffolk” campaign, added: “Improving the UKs export performance is as important as reducing the deficit.”

Chamber president Peter Funnell, who chaired the event, said: “During our discussion we were especially pleased that Ian recognised the fundamental importance of exporting, and firms at the meeting agreed that there should be a link nationally between business policy, export policy and aviation policy.”