MediaCity can help create jobs across Greater Manchester by being the region’s ‘window on the world’, according to Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman.
Ms Harman – Labour’s shadow culture, media and sport secretary – said the Salford Quays development was hugely significant for the future of business and jobs in the region.
She was due to tour the site today – and visit the Lowry arts centre and the People’s History Museum in Manchester.
Later this month, Ms Harman will outline a commitment to support new creative companies in the regions as part of a Labour plan to grow Britain’s creative industries.
She said Greater Manchester’s reputation for culture gave it a head start.
Ms Harman said: “One of the important things for the UK in the future is jobs and economic growth that’s going to come from creative industries, whether that’s TV, film, video, games programmes.
“There’s a great surge in jobs and employment in those industries and actually that cannot just be based in London.”
She said: “The thing to remember is the BBC is the biggest media organisation in the world and a huge centre of its operations is going to be in Manchester, so it basically puts the city on the global map.
“I think it’s really quite hard to overstate how important it’s going to be.
“All around the world people look to the BBC and they’ll actually be looking to the north west and to Manchester, not just London, in terms of doing business.
“It gives the north west a massive window on the world and draws people’s eyes to Manchester.”
Ms Harman described as disappointing figures revealed by the M.E.N last month, which showed that only 24 people from Salford had been employed at the new BBC headquarters.
She said she hoped that number will grow as ‘local people right from primary school look to future opportunities in the BBC’.
She said: “That’s something the BBC have really got to look at.”
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"She said she hoped that number will grow as ‘local people right from primary school look to future opportunities in the BBC’. She said: “That’s something the BBC have really got to look at"
That's a lot of looking, Harriet! Sounds like a lot of waffle to me!
Has the silly woman not been keeping up with recent stories? - or did she just want to get her name into the papers....again? The BBC don't want us scruffy Northern types in their nice new studios!
Harriet, correct on our "disappointment on only 24 local BBC jobs" but Harriet hopes our primary schools can look to a future BBC jobs, throwing real hope into Salford. Is this an attempted focus to support their mayor election campaign? Can the MEN ask the 3 now declared Labour hopefuls (King, Merry and Stewart) competing each other for a Labour mayoral gown if they signed the compulsory clause on their own party's nomination paper. It commits each to obey their National Labour Party Rules which include that their NEC can "make changes". Maybe Harriet has more than meets the eye in what she hopes for our City's future and who would be pulling Salford's strings after the Labour hopefuls have signed that ridiculous party empowerment clause.
I am not sure how these statements can be made considering the recent story regarding the disappointing number of local people that have to date been employed on the site.
I think that Mrs Harman needs to focus on the big picture and develop understand its actual potential for delivering benefits to local residents and the wider region and start to make some promises.
I am quite tired of hearing about the if's, but's and maybe's in life I something with substance . . . am I asking too much?
Surely she should be introduced as Harriet Harperson given her political stance on women only.
She has got a point, within reason. My friend was unemployed, and the tories had brought an end to the job scheme he was on. Now with a new job and working for the beeb as a technician, is he a cockney or foreign? No, Stretford. At least some local jobs have been created though there should be more.
*Awaits the "It's in Salford, not Manchester' brigade....*
Awful woman. If she had her way she would put all men in Britain to death! Harridan Harmfultoman!
she still lives on another planet doesnt she?
Bad news, good news, Harriet
Bad news: Only 24 out of 3,000 jobs went to Salford residents.
Harriet: how Horrid!
Good news: All 24 were women!
Harriet: How super!