Prime Minister set to confirm £160m Investment Zone for Flintshire and Wrexham will launch in 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will address the Welsh Labour conference in North Wales on Saturday, where he will confirm that a £160 million Investment Zone in Flintshire and Wrexham will launch in 2025.

The announcement follows Starmer’s visit to Airbus in Broughton on Friday, where he unveiled £49 million in funding for new aerospace projects in Wales, aimed at creating high-quality, skilled jobs across the nation.

The new Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone will focus on advanced manufacturing, seeking to boost productivity and innovation while helping businesses expand and increasing wages in the region.

In his speech to the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno, Starmer will describe the Investment Zone as “another essential step along the ‘path of change’ Wales voted for.”

Labour’s Mission for Renewal

In his speech, Starmer will reiterate Labour’s commitment to driving growth in North Wales as part of the party’s central mission.

He will outline his government’s responsibility to deliver for communities across Wales, after what he will describe as 14 years of neglect under Conservative leadership.

Starmer will argue that “change must be nothing less than national renewal” and must be felt “in the bones of a nation.” He will tell delegates:

“Change can’t be a few extra lines on a graph moving in the right direction. Change can’t be a good Labour policy or two delivered while the broader settlement remains untouched. Change must be nothing less than national renewal.

A change felt in the bones of a nation and in the lives and pockets of working people.

Public services – reformed and renewed. An economy where growth benefits the many. A sense of hope restored. Confidence – returned. A future where, together, we look forward, excited for the days to come.

Because together, we look back with pride on the tough decisions we took to get there.”

Investment Zone

The new Investment Zone will target Flintshire and Wrexham’s advanced manufacturing sector, identified as a vital part of the region’s economy.

The zone aims to enable businesses to thrive and expand, leveraging existing clusters of employment and research.

Starmer will confirm that plans for the zone are “being driven forward so business and communities across North Wales can start feeling the benefits next year.” He will add that this forms part of Labour’s broader commitment to deliver economic renewal across the UK.

Acknowledging Welsh Labour’s Role

Starmer will thank Welsh Labour activists for their hard work in delivering the party’s landslide victory in July, which saw Labour win 27 out of 32 parliamentary seats in Wales.

The Conservatives were wiped out, with no Tory MPs now left in the region.

He will say:

“Communities in Wales and right across the UK are ready for an exciting new era, with ‘Labour Wales and Labour Britain’ pulling in the same direction once more – once again serving the people of Wales with the ‘full force of our union.’”

Starmer will also highlight the leadership of three Welsh Labour women driving progress in Wales alongside his UK government: First Minister Eluned Morgan, Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens, and Welsh Labour Deputy Leader Carolyn Harris.

A Decade of Renewal

Acknowledging the tough fiscal decisions made by his government, Starmer will say:

“And it will be hard. People will say: ‘we should turn back,’ ‘that’s enough,’ ‘take your foot off the accelerator,’ ‘you’ve made some tough decisions, it’s time to go more softly.’

In fact, to tell the truth, they’ve already started. But conference, you know me by now. So, you know that we will stay the course. We will stick to our long-term plan – our national missions for change.

Because I am convinced they are the only way to change this nation for the better.”

Investments in Wales

Starmer will emphasise that Labour’s first budget in November 2023 laid the foundation for change in Wales.

He will say:

“£21 billion for Wales next year – a record figure. That is the path of change. £1.7 billion extra through the Barnett Formula – that is the path of change. More money for Welsh schools and hospitals, more investment in Welsh potential and pride, £88 million for city and growth deals, £1 billion for aerospace, benefitting companies like Airbus which I visited yesterday in Broughton, and a new hydrogen future in Milford Haven.

More jobs, more growth, more money in the pockets of the Welsh people.”

Conservatives

Starmer will also criticise the Conservative Party’s recent responses to Labour’s policies. Highlighting what he will describe as “hypocrisy” in their approach, he will say:

“So, make no mistake, I will defend our decisions in the Budget all day long. The Leader of the Opposition admitted in PMQs this week that she wants all the measures of our Budget – she just doesn’t want to pay for them. The same old Tories: they haven’t listened, they haven’t learnt, and they certainly haven’t changed.

They crashed the economy once. And now we know they would do it again.”

Starmer will conclude by pledging to turn the page on austerity, saying:

“I will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality, defend tough decisions that were necessary to stabilise our economy, and I will defend protecting the payslips of working people.

Fixing the foundations of our economy, asking those with the broader shoulders to contribute more, so that we finally turn the page on the era of austerity – once and for all.”