With a fresh new set of MPs now representing Glasgow, what might they expect to hear from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce as we champion both the growth of our business members and of the Glasgow economy?
Clearly the outcome of a European Union in/out referendum will be near the top of our list since the EU remains our biggest market outside the UK. We will say a lot more about that in the months to come as we gather member opinion but it's the Chamber's view that our national export performance is too weak and so any additional obstacles to trade that might come from changing our relationship with the EU would be at first sight deeply unattractive.
That is why the Chamber is also a firm supporter of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the USA and the EU. I've already expressed some concerns at the way the Scottish debate on TTIP has been conducted with some signs of outright hostility to business trading aspirations.
Trade is also fundamentally the reason that we support the expansion of Heathrow Airport as our preferred outcome from the Howard Commission. Heathrow is by far our largest hubbing airport and with industries like whisky and engineering doing business in countries all across the world we need to see the decision made quickly to add capacity to Heathrow and to increase domestic flights with Glasgow Airport.
Glasgow's MPs should also support many of the policies that Peter Mandelson and Vince Cable encouraged at the Business, Innovation and Skills department. Scotland has a long standing problem encouraging business research and development and the BIS Catapult Network is one measure that could help tackle that over time. Catapults are designed to bring academic research and business much closer together in areas where the UK excels.
Our universities have been doing very well in quietly securing Catapult centres of excellence for Glasgow, with a presence established in offshore renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, future cities and satellite applications and with keen aspirations for securing a centre in precision medicine at the new South Glasgow University hospital.
Glasgow is developing distinctive industrial strengths in engineering and life sciences and we will be urging our MPs to keep the resources flowing towards these Catapult centres.
We will also be suggesting to our MPs that they watch every move that the Conservative Government makes to develop the Northern Powerhouse around Manchester. We supported the announcement of Glasgow's £1.13b City Deal to invest in our transport, land and skills infrastructure and we believe that almost everything Manchester is seeking in greater economic development power is just as relevant to Glasgow.
Stuart Patrick is chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
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