A swift political decision is fundamental for economic
stability, West Midlands business leaders said as the Bank of
England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep interest
rates at 0.5 per cent.
Paul Bassi, president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (BCI), said: "Monetary policy and fiscal policy come hand
in hand and while the political situation remains unclear, the MPC
has little room for manoeuvre. So the decision to keep
interest rates and leave quantitative easing unchanged was
expected.
"Economic recovery slowed in the first month of 2010 which
emphasises the fragile state of the economy. GDP rose by just
0.2 per cent, a drop on the 0.4 per cent recorded in Quarter 4
2009."
Simon Topman, chairman of the West Midlands Chamber of Commerce,
said: "The current political situation cannot continue without
having a dire effect on the country's economy. Speed on the
political front is essential."