Responding to TODAY’S KING’S SPEECH, JOHN DICKIE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BusinessLDN, said:
“The King’s Speech was more curate’s egg than golden goose when it comes to meeting the central test of whether it will promote growth.
“The most glaring omission was legislation to finish the job on HS2. The Government must now urgently engage with industry to put in place the commercial frameworks to unlock the private sector investment needed to get the project built into Euston. The commitment to simplify rail fares and the creation of Great British Railways should however lead to improved connectivity and a better passenger experience over time.
“Overall, the legislative programme could have sent a more powerful, unambiguous signal about the UK’s determination to be the best place in the world to invest in the high-growth green and tech industries of tomorrow, and the absence of audit reform was a lost opportunity to further strengthen the UK’s reputation on corporate governance.”