Businesses need 'action from day one' says BCC boss as Labour wins UK general election

The boss of one of the UK's biggest business organisations has called for "action from day one" from the new Labour government.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, congratulated Labour on its decisive general election victory and pledged to work in partnership with the new government to boost the economy.

She made the promise after Rishi Sunak officially conceded the election result on Friday (July 5). Rishi Sunak is the only Prime Minister from the last 14 years whose seat remains blue. The Tories have lost the constituencies once held by Lord Cameron, Lady May, Boris Johnson and Ms Truss overnight.

“Congratulations to the Labour Party on their victory after a long and hard-fought campaign," she said. “The public have delivered them a clear and decisive parliamentary majority – hopefully they will use this mandate to provide the stability and certainty businesses crave.

“How we revitalise our economy was hotly debated throughout the past six weeks, and it is encouraging to see they have many policies which clearly align with our recommendations."

Ms Haviland said the UK needed a "coherent" industrial strategy for the long term which placed an emphasis on harnessing green innovation.

"After a gruelling election the really hard work starts now. We need to see action from day," she said. “Closing the skills gap, growing exports, boosting productivity and harnessing the power of AI won’t happen overnight.

“And businesses will also want to see early movement on pledges around business rates reform and improving our trade relationship with the EU.

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“None of this will be easy, and our new Government should not be expected to do it alone. But our entire Chamber Network and the 51,000 businesses it represents will be ready to put their shoulders to the wheel and help."

“If our firms succeed, then our communities prosper, the economy grows, and the wealth needed to support our public services is created.”