Fairness and Inequality

Debate between Angus Robertson and Stephen Crabb

Tuesday 11th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb]

The choice still facing the United Kingdom is either to stick to the long-term economic plan to secure a better, more financially secure future for hard-working people and their families throughout the country, or to listen to the Opposition parties and the motion before us calling for a return to the days of spending and borrowing beyond our means, leaving our children and their children to pick up the bill.

[Angus Robertson]

As we are talking about getting the record straight, recent quotes of the Business Secretary have been raised a number of times. He said that London

“is becoming a giant suction machine draining the life out of the rest of the country”.

Does the Minister agree with the Business Secretary?

[Stephen Crabb]

We touched on this point during the opening speech of the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr. I remind hon. Members that the most recent gross value added figures show that parts of the United Kingdom far from London are rebounding strongly with growth and starting to narrow some of the economic gap that we are all concerned about.