OPINION
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (Image: Getty)
Crumbling infrastructure is not just a badge of shame, it hinders investment and growth. When I speak to international investors, I’m proud to tell them about a British workforce full of dynamism and talent. British innovation that leads the world.
But it’s hard to sell an infrastructure system that lags behind our international competitors, where we had not managed to build a reservoir in 30 years.
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That malaise ends now. We are a nation of builders. And Labour is unleashing our industrial heritage once again to put cranes in the sky and shovels in the ground.
This week, the Chancellor outlined a downpayment on Britain’s future – and a direct response to what people want: a country where the buildings we rely on are safe, functional, and fit for purpose. Where schools and hospitals aren’t crumbling, where roads and railways work, and where public services feel modern, not broken. It’s about restoring national pride in the places we live and work, while boosting economic growth and creating good jobs across the country.
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For working people, this means faster journeys, better access to care, and more time with family. For businesses, it means a more productive workforce, stronger supply chains, and the confidence to invest.
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But it isn’t just about rebuilding our public realm. It is about who builds it. It matters where things are made and who builds them. British firms and people must benefit from the building boom.
That is why the cornerstone for our upcoming industrial strategy is an overhaul of public procurement designed to drive growth, protect supply chains, open new opportunities for small businesses and deliver greater value for taxpayers.
Our plans will mean companies need to show they can create opportunity and growth locally when bidding for public sector contracts, supporting modern industrial strategy.
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Britain is navigating a time of uncertainty better than any other country. Our landmark post-Brexit trade deals are testament to Labour’s ambition for Britain.
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But those deals only matter if they translate to better-paid jobs in every part of the UK. I am clear I will take the action needed to protect our industries – and that includes bolstering our trade defences to stop cheap steel from abroad being dumped on us.
This Government is using every tool at our disposal to bolster British industry. We are forging agreements to protect us from tariffs in key sectors.
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We are using our trade defences to keep our domestic industries competitive. And we are using the power of the public purse to ensure taxpayers’ money goes to bolster British industry and give opportunities to our own people.
Our plan for change will ensure Britain’s future is built in Britain.
Jonathan Reynolds is the Business and Trade Secretary