Charles Kennedy at IoD Annual Dinner
The Institute of Directors welcomed former Liberal Democrat Leader Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP to its North West Annual Dinner 2007 last night with more than 200 guests at The Crowne Plaza, Liverpool. The event also announced a new base for IoD members in Liverpool, a “mini-hub’, at 2 Moorfields, Liverpool, L2 2BS within the Yorkshire Bank Financial Solutions Centre. Members will be able to pre-book rooms from May 1 and use a new lounge there with broadband internet access points.
Ian Spink, Managing Partner for Yorkshire Bank at the Liverpool Financial Solutions Centre said; “I am delighted to confirm that the IoD have selected the Liverpool Yorkshire Bank Financial Solutions Centre as its new “min-hub’ and look forward to helping develop Liverpool as a centre of excellence for commerce in the UK.”
Laura Wolfe, Regional Director of the IoD in the North West; “We have an active and growing membership of nearly 3,000 members in the North West who are critical to the North West economy and to its ranking as a world-class destination for business. The facilities planned for Liverpool will offer members visiting Liverpool and working around the City a prestigious location for meetings and work, in keeping with their high standards.”
Miles Templeman, the Director General of the IoD who was in Liverpool to support the announcement added; “It demonstrates our commitment to and belief in Liverpool as a centre for commerce which is growing in importance nationally and internationally.”
Charles Kennedy spoke about over regulation for business, his desire to engage more affectively with people and the London centric Government which should focus more on regions such as the North West.
Mr Kennedy said:
“The IoD and my own political cause have not always had a common cause, but it is about time we did. Over the last 15 months I have had time to stand back and look and listen. We need to engage better with people. We need to wake up and do things differently to how we do things at the moment. There is too much interference from the political class when it comes to the business of business. We would be better off if politicians stood back and allowed business people to get on. All politics is local. We need to evolve where politics is more regionally focused, where solutions are provided based on local intelligence rather than people like me saying we know better.”
Mr Kennedy also answered questions about parenthood, spending more time with his two-year-old son Donald, his environmental agenda, devolution and differences in the education structure between England and Wales. The dinner was hosted by the BBC’s former Political Editor in the North West, Jim Hancock, now an associate of Vision Creative & Communication Consultants.
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Background:
The Rt Hon Charles Kennedy is MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
Charles Kennedy was Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006 and at the 2005 General Election achieved the best result the Party and its predecessors had enjoyed since 1923, winning 62 seats. During his term of office, by far the most controversial decision of his leadership was leading the Party in outright opposition of the war on Iraq. Kennedy stood down in January 2006. In June last year, Kennedy made his first appearance in the national media on the BBC’s, Question Time. One of the questions on the show was about his possible return as leader, which he declined to rule out. Kennedy has made numerous appearances on the BBC’s topical news programme Have I Got News For You, some of which have been as guest presenter.
The Institute of Directors is a non-political independent organisation with 55,000 members. In addition to its wide range of business services, the IoD provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members to government and key opinion-formers. It also brings the experience of business leaders to bear on the conduct of public affairs. More information at www.iod.com/northwest
The North West Region of the Institute of Directors is one of the fastest growing regions of the IoD.
Contact Points:
Jane Harrad-Roberts, Press Officer, IoD North West Mobile and out of hours: 07785 395705 Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk
Laura Wolfe, Regional Director, IoD North West Tel.: 0161 209 3152 Mobile and out of hours: 07973 332564 Email. laura.wolfe@iod.com Web. www.iod.com/northwest
Ian Spink Managing Partner Yorkshire Bank Liverpool Financial Solutions Centre Tel: 0151 224 2001 Mob: 07802 919604 Email: ian.spink@eu.nabgroup.com Web: www.YBonline.co.uk
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