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Time for the new Labour government to break with economic orthodoxy

Keir Starmer must open up innovation to every industry and area of the country – from biotech to bakery, from Shoreditch to Sheffield

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The new UK government has rightly nailed his flag to the mast of economic growth. If PM Keir Starmer delivers on this promise, then the next decade will be gifted to Labour – but should he fail, it’s unlikely the electorate will forgive him.Although short-term growth can be achieved with directed capital spending, long-term and sustainable economic growth needs to have innovation and entrepreneurship at its core – stimulating these across the country will catalyse investment and distribute it nationwide.

But to do this, Labour will have to break with some orthodoxies that have chronically plagued the UK’s growth ambitions under previous administrations.

Economic myopia has excluded much of the country from the possibility of starting new businesses. Innovation and entrepreneurship are perceived by many to be something that only happens in the financial centre of the Square Mile or the startups of Old Street roundabout....