Local MP welcomes budget funding for High Streets and hinted at aspirations to be Prime Minister
Justine Greening MP has welcomed yesterday's announcement by the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, for more funding to improve High Streets alongside cuts in business rates. However more attention has been given to her interview on Good Morning Britain yesterday (October 29th).
While promoting her Social Mobility pledge, Ms Greening was quizzed by the presenters on a potential leadership bid and asked if there was a vacancy for PM would she put her case forward? Ms Greening replied she "might be prepared to", but that she was more interested in the Conservative party actually showing what it can do for the country.
Presenter Susanna Reid applauded Ms Greening's honesty in admitting she would like to be leader of the Tory party, saying that normally "people wriggle on a pin to get out of that question". Ms Greening said that she entered politics to make a "change on the ground".
Commenting on Mr Hammond's budget later in the day, Ms Greening said she welcomed more funding to improve local high streets alongside cuts in business rates, “I’ve been pressing the Chancellor to take clear action to support Putney High Street, and others like it, in today’s Budget. Our Council is already investing in upgrading our High Street, including measures to cut air pollution. I hope that this £675m Future High Streets Fund can now help to unlock the next stage of improvements that Putney High Street needs to make it more pedestrian friendly, with a better shopping environment. I’m also interested in seeing how Roehampton High Street and Southfields Village might also be able to benefit from the Fund.
She continued, “I’m also particularly pleased to see that extra support through the business rates system means that bills will be cut by a third for retail properties with a rateable value below £51,000 for 2 years from April 2019. This will really help some of our smaller, independent local shops, pubs and restaurants across Putney, Roehampton and Southfields which I know local residents hugely value so it’s great that the Government is supporting them.”
What roles has Justine Greening MP had in government?
Justine Greening became Member of Parliament for Putney and Southfields following the general election of 2005. In May 2010, Justine Greening was appointed as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury within the Coalition Government. In October 2011, she was then appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Transport. In September 2012, she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development, and from July 2016 to January 2018 she was Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities.
We have asked Justine Greening for comment on the question of a possible future candidacy for the role of Prime Minister.
October 30, 2018