It was an honour last week to visit a manufacturing company in Gateshead that has been shortlisted as one of the most improved companies in the country.
The company, Palintest, design and manufacture a range of water testing kits, photometers and reagents and supply customers around the world.
The award would do much to inspire them and would also be a positive example to other companies.
The award for the community as a whole is to have first-class firms that compete in international and developing world markets and help supply our country with jobs and income.
Without such sterling companies we will be less able to fund the services a civilised society needs. At another inspiring visit I heard of the public goods that are much-needed and which an efficient and dynamic economy can bring.
I took part in the Gateshead Dementia Forum this week their priority, for those who have really created the wealth during their working lives, is protecting their income and vital services such as transport for vulnerable citizens.
Like myself, they are deeply concerned about the impact of excessive public spending cuts which reduce public services and undermine the voluntary sector's capacity, despite all the trumpeting about the Big Society.
There is clearly a major argument between the political parties about the speed and scale of belt-tightening. The coalition parties claim that international markets would punish us if they don't stick to their plans but business observers point out that easing the austerity drive need not be punished in that way.
Some coalition people also wring their hands and declare that they would really rather not do it but painful medicine is necessary.
If Labour had won the election there would also have been some painful choices until we had managed to wrest the economy back from bankers and other selfish interests who wrecked it in the first place.
However, advocates of harsh austerity never promise to reinstate cuts when the economy improves. I fear that the economic crisis is seen as an opportunity to roll back state services permanently and give more resources to private interests.
The hard work of local firms and those representing ordinary people make me even more determined to defend my community in the Commons.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
| Promoted by Ken Childs on behalf of Ian Mearns, 12 Regent Terrace Gateshead NE8 1LU |