Bishop’s Stortford Tory councillor Graham McAndrew urges Labour Government to back green growth for East Anglia

A Bishop’s Stortford Conservative councillor has called on the new Labour Government to support a “sustainable and prosperous future” for the East of England.

Cllr Graham McAndrew, a member of Herts county and East Herts district councils, was commenting after the region’s third Net Zero and Climate Resilience Summit.

He was instrumental in setting up the Cambridge conference as chair of the Eastern region of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

More than 250 people attended the summit at Anglia Ruskin University, where speakers and workshops focused on the actions needed to achieve net zero and climate resilience.

It was opened by the city’s MP, Daniel Zeichner, who is Labour’s new environment minister for food security and rural affairs.

He set out the need for adaptation to a changing climate. A commitment to farming and farmers as custodians of the natural environment was highlighted, as was Defra’s commitment to cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas, boosting food security, ensuring nature recovery and protecting people from flooding.

As part of the event, a ground-breaking report showcasing the economic potential of the East of England was launched.

“Opportunity East: How the East of England Will Drive National Productivity Through Innovation” was produced by the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA), Chambers East and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the region.

It states that the East of England could become a £220 billion economy by 2035 and has the potential to go even further.

This growth would be led by sectors essential to achieving net zero and mitigation, including green energy, agri-tech and advanced manufacturing, but this is at significant risk due to historic underinvestment in the region’s infrastructure.

Cllr McAndrew said: “This summit has truly highlighted the strength of collaboration between our key regional partners.

“Launching the Opportunity East report here signifies a shared commitment to both economic growth and climate resilience.

“The insights and strategies presented are a testament to what we can achieve when we unite for a common goal. It is imperative that the Government takes note and supports our vision for a sustainable and prosperous future.”

The summit was organised by the EELGA, CILT, Transport East and England’s Economic Heartland.