Date: Tuesday 21st September 2010
Time: 8.30am - 10.00am
Venue: Royal Exchange Theatre

Speaking at the Downtown Manchester in Business Chairman’s Breakfast this morning, Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said that the Thatcher Government’s approach to public spending cuts looks benign compared to that of the current Government.

Held at the Royal Exchange Theatre and attended by over 50 of the city’s top professionals, the networking breakfast provided a unique insight into Sir Richard’s views on the future of the Labour party, working with the coalition Government and the impact the public sector cuts could have on Manchester.

Leese said: “Manchester has never been new Labour and it’s never been old Labour. We are Manchester Labour and will continue to be, whoever wins the leadership battle. Our job is, and has always been, to represent the people of Manchester and their needs to the Government, so in that respect nothing has changed since the Coalition gained power.

“In terms of Manchester, the public spending cuts could have a significant impact on businesses throughout Greater Manchester. Research recently undertaken by the Council found that 80 per cent of its expenditure is spent in the city region, so the Government needs to understand and acknowledge the knock on effects to local businesses. In my opinion the Government is cutting more than is necessary and they are doing it for ideological reasons.”

Downtown in Business is Manchester’s newest business club for the private sector. Already established in Liverpool, Preston and Lancaster, Downtown in Business has earned its reputation as one of the most influential business organisations in the region.

Frank McKenna, Chairman of Downtown in Business, said: “Sir Richard Leese became leader of Manchester City Council just one month before the IRA bomb in June 1996. Since then he has forged a unique relationship with Chief Executive, Sir Howard Bernstein that has consistently delivered in terms of development, regeneration and inward investment to the city. They are a force to be reckoned with in regional politics and long may it continue.”

With a membership of over 500 companies across the North West Downtown Manchester in Business strives to offer great networking events with prominent speakers throughout the year.