Cheshire Day in Parliament event 23rd May 2012 organised by Fiona Bruce MP
On 23rd May a unique day was held in Parliament – Cheshire Day. Business people, community representatives, members of the Cheshire LEP and Councillors joined MPs and Ministers to promote Cheshire to the Nation at large. The innovative event secured National media coverage.
Fiona Bruce MP for Congleton, who initiated and organised the event in Parliament said: “Cheshire Day in Parliament was the first time any area in the country had held an event to promote the benefits of living, working and visiting the region. In particular a key aim was to attract new business investment and create new job opportunities to the area by showcasing the economic benefits Cheshire offers in terms of excellent workforces, infrastructure, and speedy communication links, all in conjunction with a very high quality of life including education and community life in a very attractive county.
“Several Cheshire MPs spoke throughout the day. Key features offered by the county were emphasised in an opening speech by International Development Minister Stephen O’Brien MP for Eddisbury. This was followed by a keynote speech by the Chancellor, George Osborne MP for Tatton, underlining the importance of Cheshire’s economic contribution both regionally and nationally and its potential for further growth. As it was George’s birthday the assembled guests – over 200 business and community leaders from Cheshire and invited guests including MPs from across the country sang him Happy Birthday and presented him with a bag of goodies from the Cheshire Food Fair which formed part of Cheshire Day in Parliament, highlighting tasty local produce including cheese, sausages and ice cream, all washed down with Tatton Beer and Congleton apple juice.
The Food Fair provided light refreshments for everyone during the lunchtime break, whilst Prime Minister’s Questions, which were taking place in the Chamber next door, were viewed on a big screen.
Immediately afterwards we had our very own Cheshire Question Time with several Cheshire MPs including David Rutley MP for Macclesfield, David Mowat MP for Warrington South, Edward Timpson MP for Crewe and Nantwich , Stephen Moseley MP for Chester, Andrew Miller MP for Ellesmere Port and myself with former BBC interviewer, Jim Hancock, taking the Dimbleby role! This Q&A session gave us an opportunity to highlight particular positives for Cheshire business such as Government investment in roads in Crewe and Middlewich and in Bentleys in Crewe through the Regional Growth Fund and in the planned Runcorn-Widnes bridge which will help open up the region’s transport links, so vital for doing business efficiently.
Also discussed were the potential growth opportunities for the nuclear industry in the North West and Government support for business small and large through funding for new apprentices. This was developed in more detail in the afternoon session in a speech by Employment Minister, Chris Grayling MP, who exhorted companies from across the region to take advantage of Government support for apprenticeships.
The afternoon closed with a number of excellent short contributions from delegates including a stirring slot from Jonathan Williams, Town Clerk of Middlewich on how Middlewich has improved investment in the town, as well as community life, through making the most of its heritage such as its Roman links and salt industry as well as its industrial and now leisure use of canal ways, holding several festivals a year in the town attracting many thousands of visitors. The afternoon proved an excellent opportunity for Middlewich to promote its next Folk and Boat Festival in the country – to be held 16th-18th June with many events free.
Fiona concluded: “It was incredibly hard work to organise the day but a great privilege and what was especially positive was how all three local authorities Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington worked together, with the LEP and Marketing Cheshire and all the Cheshire MPs who were so enthusiastic in supporting the day, to help make the day happen. It’s this kind of joint partnership working which Cheshire clearly showed through Cheshire Day it can achieve which is key to the successful ongoing development of the county.
I do not believe that the event could have been more successful – feedback from fellow MPs from across the country who visited Cheshire Day told me their eyes had been opened as to many positive aspects of the county and they are all wanting to have similar days for their regions – but Cheshire got there first!
