FORMER Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith will give his views on the future prospects for the British economy at a conference in Stratford next month.
The MP, widely seen as the architect of recent changes to the welfare state, will give the keynote speech at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Economic Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday November 3.
He will be joined by other leading names from business and politics.
Andy Street, the former chief executive of John Lewis and recently elected mayor of the West Midlands, will reflect on his first six months in office, while Dr Adam Marshall and Suren Thiru, both of the British Chambers of Commerce, will talk about the UK economy in the wake of a long period of political uncertainty.
Janice Charette, Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK, will offer her perspective on the UK’s ability to strike new trade deals with countries around the world following the exit from the European Union.
Paul Noon, executive director at Coventry University Enterprises, and Dave Ayton-Hill, head of economy and skills at Warwickshire County Council, will highlight how Coventry and Warwickshire has performed economically and the opportunities and threats it faces moving forward.
Regional MPs, Marcus Jones and Nadhim Zahawi, will also be speaking at the event.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The past couple of years have seen a great deal of change on a regional, national and international level.
“Iain Duncan Smith had, up until last year, played a major role in Government and was a keen supporter of the UK leaving the EU so he can provide a very interesting perspective on where the UK might be heading – just as Janice Charrette will be able to offer a view from the ‘outside looking in’.
Visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk for further details, including information on attending the conference.
