Labour’s Dan Norris has backed the Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds as she launched Labour’s five-point plan to “put communities first” and support local high streets.
Mr Norris, who is standing to be Metro Mayor, is promising a bright future for the West of England’s high streets. The Labour candidate has been critical of the current Metro Mayor’s inability to spend his High Street fund at a time when local businesses are crying out for support
He said: “Our local high streets are the life blood of our communities. People feel proud of them and want them to thrive. The pandemic has been devasting which is why we need urgent action. The Shadow Chancellor is right that steps need to be taken nationally so that high street businesses are not competing with online retailers with one hand tied behind their backs, and I look forward to working with her in the next Labour Government. But we need local action too. It’s ridiculous that the current Metro Mayor has left half his High Street fund unspent. We need money in the local community not languishing in his bank account. We can’t continue with a situation like this, it’s time for new leadership.”