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Rachel with John Battle MP and Councillors' Neil Taggart and Ted Hanley outside Tesco's in Bramley - which opened in Spring 2008.  The supermarket has helped regenerate the shopping centre which is going from strength to strength.

January marked the official launch of the West Leeds Enterprise Centre, based on Stanningley Road and run by Barca-Leeds. The Centre will be at the forefront of providing affordable drop in workspace along with a comprehensive support package for new business in West Leeds. Another important function of the Centre will be the provision of support for existing small business in West Leeds, to this effect; work is currently underway in establishing the West Leeds Business Network. Rachel Reeves, who attended the launch event said:

"Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy. The Enterprise Centre along with Business Links can support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs in west Leeds and I wholeheartedly recommend the Enterprise Centre to local businesses. Successful small businesses will help us come through this recession too."

When Alistair Darling unveiled his pre-budget report in November it was clear that the UK, along with most other economies globally, was entering recession. However, as time progresses – and the economic times move particularly fast right now, it is clear the challenges we face are greater than we anticipated even two months ago. So, what more can we do to offer help to families and businesses? And what can we do to ensure that when the recovery comes we are in a position to benefit?

Progress Online, January 2009, read more...

Photograph courtesy of Andrew Wiard.

Following on from a debate in London with Peter Mandelson on Saturday about the economy, Rachel welcomed action from the government to support the banking sector and get banks lending again to families and customers. With the global economic downturn intensifying in the past two months, the Government has announced a package designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy.

"To do nothing, as the Tories propose, would cost the country more for today's tax payers and for future taxpayers" said Rachel, who is a former Bank of England economist as well as Labour's parliamentary candidate in Leeds West.

"The most important priority is to get banks lending again to keep people in jobs and in their homes."