Ed Balls addresses 250 business leaders

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls addressed 250 business leaders in Cleckheaton.

The Morley and Outwood MP attended the Batley and Spen business dinner at Aakash, in Bradford Road, Cleckheaton on Friday October 24.

Mr Balls pledged to reform the way business rates are applied and address the shortfall in investment for Yorkshire since the abolition of the regional development agencies in March 2012.

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Jo Cox, Batley and Spen’s prospective parliamentary candidate, said: “Ed’s message to local businesses was clear – Labour will rebalance attention to what employers in our area need such as freezing and cutting business rates for small companies.”

The audience mainly comprised local manufacturing companies, and members of Cleckheaton’s Chamber of Trade were present.

The evening was sponsored by Batley company Al-Murad Tiles.

Mrs Cox added: “It would not have been possible without the support of Al-Murad, a real Batley success story, and the Aakash restaurant, who Ed congratulated on their recent awards.”