THE Telegraph has asked Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West’s general election candidates a series of questions ahead of the July 4 poll, inviting them to provide extended responses for our readers’ consideration.
The first of these questions is: What would you do to boost job opportunities in Inverclyde?
Liberal Democrat candidate Ross Stalker responded:
WE need a strong and diverse local economy so that our towns are more than just satellites of Glasgow. Small businesses are vital for this, and Liberal Democrats would work to remove the barriers that hold small business back. We would seek to solve skills gaps and increase the availability of apprenticeships. Liberal Democrats would also re-establish the Industrial Strategy Council, to give businesses certainty and incentivise them to invest in new technologies to grow the economy.
Of course, we cannot ignore the damage that Brexit has done to trade and jobs. Unlike the current Government we are willing to say that Brexit was a mistake and that we urgently need to lower the barriers it has created between us and our most important trading partners.
It’s not just about having more jobs, but good quality jobs as well, which is why we want to improve worker’s rights, particularly in the ‘gig economy’. You can find more details on all of these policies in our manifesto.
Locally, I’m aware that people are concerned about the future of Ferguson’s shipyard and Inchgreen Dry Dock. I strongly believe that Peel Ports’ management of the waterfront is a massive conflict of interest. They don’t want to properly invest in the infrastructure, but they don’t want their competitors to have it either. If elected I will support calls for Clydeport to be nationalised and for the waterfront to be managed by a municipal port authority that is accountable to the local community.