Prime Minister backs Get Britain Building campaign

The construction industry campaign Get Britain Building has received endorsement from Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Prime Minister today conceded the importance of getting Britain building again as the latest GDP figures were knocked by a sharp fall in construction.

Cameron adopted the building industry’s campaign slogan when he expressed concern about the latest output figures which showed the overall economy grew by just 0.5% during the first quarter of 2011.

Get Britain Building (GBB) is a pan-construction industry campaign determined to get Government – this or the next, regardless of party – to recognise the value of the sector to the nation and to use it to rebuild the UK economy.

The growth rate was held back by a disastrous performance from construction, which the Office of National Statistics estimated had recorded a dramatic fall of 4.7% over the previous quarter.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, David Cameron said: “What’s happening in the construction industry is disappointing. “We do need to get Britain building again and that’s why we are introducing the new homes bonus.”

He added: “But what is encouraging in the figures is that the British economy is growing once again, manufacturing is up, exports are up and we are seeing a rebalancing of the economy.”

Mike Leonard, spokesperson for GBB and director of the Modern Masonry Alliance, said: “We are delighted that the Prime Minister has today announced that we need to ‘Get Britain Building’. The Get Britain Building campaign launched in 2009 has prepared a Plan B, which sets out why investing in construction can create 2.5 million jobs and positive growth in GDP”.

He added: “With 5 million people on the housing waiting list and building material manufacturing capacity and skills being eroded we call on Mr Cameron to turn his fine words into positive action. Our industry is ready and willing to respond.”