MP astonished over bid to block Bill

A WARRINGTON MP has expressed his “astonishment” over an attempt by Labour MPs to block a Bill aiming to help new business in the North West.
David Mowat, MP for Warrington South, (pictured) said the National Insurance Contributions Bill was recently debated in the House of Commons.
It included a scheme to help new businesses in the North West – detailing how they would not be required to pay employer’s National Insurance Contributions for the first 10 people they employed within two years of starting.
He claimed that Labour MPs attempted to wreck the programme by tabling an amendment which would have forced money for the scheme to be spent in London, the South East and East Anglia instead. The amendment was ultimately defeated.
Mr Mowat said: “I’m frankly astonished that Labour MPs don’t seem interested in standing up for businesses in the North West. Not only was their last act in Government to make it more expensive to employ people, but now they are trying to wreck a scheme designed specifically to target growth in the North of England by voting to send yet more money to London and the South East instead.
“I spent 24 years in business trying to fight against a mentality that if something is important it has to be done in London. Output in the North West is only half that in London and that is completely unsustainable. The Coalition is determined to help stimulate jobs in the North West, but unfortunately it looks as though we can’t expect any help from Labour.”