Damien Moore MP Praises New Churchtown Business

SOUTHPORT MP Damien Moore has visited The Dram Gift Shop on Botanic Road in Churchtown, a new whiskey business which opened its doors in April. Mr Moore was shown around the shop which, alongside a high quality selection of whiskeys, sells other goods ranging from hip flasks and whiskey glasses, to candles and whiskey infused coffee. The owner, Darren Boyd-Preece, explained how busy business had been over the past few months, especially around Father's Day. The business has slotted straight into the close-knit Churchtown community. Mr Moore is encouraging the town's residents to continue to support the various pockets of village shops across Southport, including those in Churchtown.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, said:- "It is always fantastic to visit new local businesses, and it was a real pleasure to meet Darren and see his shop's unique offer. I'm delighted to see that the business is doing well, with many exciting ideas for the future. Botanic Road is an iconic and historic part of both Churchtown and Southport's identity, and it was great to hear how welcoming the whole community has been. I'd encourage everyone to stop by and see the wide range of products on offer, and support another local small business in such a wonderful part of our Town."

Labour Shadow Minister recommits Labour to support for steel industry

BILL Esterson MP, Labour’s Shadow Business and Industry Minister was hugely impressed when he visited Tata Steel’s Shotton Steelworks recently. The Deeside site in North Wales manufactures around 500,000 tonnes of metallic coated and pre-finished steel products each year for building envelope, domestic and consumer applications. It has just announced a sustainability commitment, which includes a target of reducing its carbon footprint by 20% this year alone. Bill met Works Manager, Bill Duckworth and representatives from UNITE and Community Trades Unions, and was shown some of the site’s latest high tech manufacturing facilities.

Bill Duckworth said:- "It’s always a pleasure to welcome visitors to our business, and to show off our people, our products and our processes. It’s especially important that people such as Bill gain a better understanding of the value that is added throughout our supply chains and the role of our site in local communities."

Bill Esterson said:- "Thank you to Tata Steel for hosting my visit to Shotton and for showing me the innovative system they use for coating steel. I was very impressed by their ability to paint so efficiently and in such large quantities. Shotton is an important part of the UK’s steel industry and the commitment from management and trade unions to its ongoing success is an excellent example of partnership working. The steel industry is of strategic national importance to this country, and governments should be partners in supporting our core industries. Tata Steel told me about the eye watering increases in the cost of gas and electricity that they are having to pay. Labour would support energy intensive industries including steel with a £1billion energy fund. Labour in Government will establish an Industrial Strategy Council to offer the long term certainty that business needs. We will support the decarbonisation of key industries such as steel through our climate investment fund, specifically through our green steel fund of £3billion. And we will commit to support our steel industry through greater use of Government procurement. Labour’s plan will ensure we have an exciting future for steel and for successful businesses like those at Shotten Works."