Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, said:
“While some elements of the Queen’s Speech signalled a welcome direction of travel, we need to see more direct and meaningful action from government to help businesses in the Liverpool City Region to increase productivity, strengthen the economy and tackle rising costs across the board.
“We are calling on the government to deliver an emergency budget with measures to ease the mounting pressures on businesses and allow them to exercise greater control of their own prices against a backdrop of surging energy bills, staff shortages and higher taxes.
“Only then will local firms have a realistic chance of playing an active part in some of the missions set out in the Queen’s Speech, such as levelling up, upskilling, unlocking innovation or enjoying the benefits of significant infrastructure improvements.”