Backing Business and Boosting Jobs

A strong local economy is essential for providing high-skill and high wage job opportunities. This also drives investment in our area and generates taxes for essential services. 

I am backing our local businesses and supporting them as we recover from the pandemic. I want to ensure our businesses survive, that we protect jobs and we return to growth as quickly as possible. This means supporting the enormous variety of small businesses that we have across the constituency as well as our major employers to thrive. Over the pandemic, I have worked hard to ensure that Eastleigh businesses got the support they needed through the combination grants, loans, business rates relief, and the furlough scheme. However, certain industries have been more affected than others and will continue to need ongoing assistance. I am clear that we need a framework of support that is accessible and consistent for businesses to work with. 

My campaign to Back Business and Boost Jobs is focused on:

  • Supporting our local businesses with ongoing support as we recover from COVID-19. 
  • Re-generating Eastleigh town and ensuring we have a vibrant and lively town centre with a compelling offer to shoppers and visitors.
  • Back Southampton Airport's runway extension to safeguard the future of the airport.
  • Develop Southampton Airport as a hub of green technology and zero-emission flying.  

 

News

Paul meets farmers in Bursledon

It was great to visit John at his farm in Bursledon along with other farmers and representatives from the National Farmers Union (NFU). 

Victory for Campaigners - Southampton Airport Saved

I am absolutely delighted that our campaign to Save Southampton Airport has been successful.

In the early hours of Saturday morning and after a very drawn out debate, the plans to extend the runway at Southampton Airport were finally approved by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Paul launches petition to Save Southampton Airport

I am very disappointed by the decision that Councillors took on Friday night to reject Southampton Airport's runway extension.  Members of the planning committee have chosen to ignore the advice of their own professional and technical experts who recommended approving the application with suitabl

COVID-19 update and financial support

When the lockdown began in March, nobody could be sure how long this would last. Many of us hoped that it would be short lived, but very quickly we accepted that it would be many more months before things fully return to normal.

Paul supports Small Business Saturday

On Saturday, it was a great pleasure to be out in Botley listening to many of the small independent businesses operating in the village such as Wardrobe @24 and Mermaids. It was also Small Business Saturday nationally and I was delighted to support this campaign which encourages all of us to shop

Extra support for the Travel and Aviation Sector

I welcome the announcement today that Southampton Airport will not have to pay business rates this year and that a new testing and quarantine system will be introduced, cutting the quarantine periods from 14 days to 5 days with a negative test.

Paul speaks up for Southampton Airport and Travel Businesses

Pleased to speak in the Aviation Debate today and call for improvements to the testing regime, business rates support and a decision on the extension to Southampton Airport. We need to support the aviation and travel sector and help both get back on their feet.