Support local firms to help our economy, says Cannock MP
The Conservative Party chairman has urged people to emerge from their lockdown "hibernation" and support local businesses to aid the region's economic recovery.
Amanda Milling said she has seen signs that the West Midlands is returning to "some form of normality" in recent days, with more people out and about in town and city centres.
And she said it was crucial that local businesses were supported so the region can get back on its feet after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Cannock Chase MP was in the West Midlands to announce that the Conservative Party conference would be returning to Birmingham three times over the next six years.
She told the Express & Star: "I've seen over the last three weeks that we are certainly coming out of our national hibernation, and it is good to see that people are beginning to feel more confident about going out.
"I think this will increase over time as more people see it is possible to safely interact while practising social distancing.
"Businesses have adapted incredibly well in terms of putting in place measures to protect customers and staff.
"It is time to return to some form of normality, and we need the public to be confident enough to get out and support local businesses and the high street."
Evolve
Ms Milling, who was appointed co-chairman of the party in February, warned that another national lockdown would "drain" the economy, but she said she was confident in measures put in place to manage localised spikes.
Addressing the concerns of business leaders, she said: "The reaction has been incredibly positive in terms of what we have done to help the various different sectors to protect their businesses, and to protect jobs.
"We have had to evolve our response, and the measures that have been announced are about ensuring we get that investment into the economy to create jobs.
"We won't be able to protect every job, and that's why we have the wider package of measures – which is about re-killing and helping people adapt to a different kind of economic landscape."
Ms Milling would not be drawn on whether the Government was likely to raise taxes rises in order to fund the response to the crisis.
