Various spokespersons from the Party have given their views about what will happen to RDAs including SEEDA in the south east [see earlier story] and now shadow business secretary Ken Clarke is the latest to give his opinion.

The regional Chamber of Commerce, Sussex Enterprise, has joined other businesses bodies including the CBI, to support SEEDA and urge any future Conservative government to look at the current structure by all means but to maintain the quango so it can continue its good work.

Ken Clarke told the local newspaper The Argus that a final decision had not been taken on the future of RDAs, adding “it isn’t crystal clear…. that we are going to scrap RDAs. You clearly require a level of government below the national level ….. bringing with it local knowledge and proper partnership with local people, below the level of Whitehall. RDAs all do some good things. To be fair to them, some of them can point to playing a very important role”