Three Gloucestershire MPs shared their thoughts on everything from Brexit to apprenticeships and housing at an event in the county this morning.

Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham, David Drew, MP for Stroud, and Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, took part in a good-natured Q&A at a Business West breakfast event in front of an audience of around 40 people from the business community and charity sector from across Gloucestershire.

Other topics on the agenda included the skills gap, broadband, the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) and the MPs' own visions for Gloucestershire. The three MPs took it in turns to answers questions and all knew their briefs very well. Although largely in agreement, they couldn't resist the occasional party political pop, particularly around Brexit. While the two Conservatives were of the view that an agreement would be met on Brexit at the nth hour, David Drew was less certain.

All three talked about some key issues from their own constituency:

Alex Chalk talked about the importance of the new cyber park set to be built on land close to GCHQ and the opportunities that will bring for business in the county.

David Drew highlighted the importance of the public sector and how the public sector and private sector must work together to drive the economy. He also discussed his frustration with the lack of trains and connectivity between Stroud and London.

Richard Graham highlighted his three core aims of celebrating, stimulating and encouraging Gloucester. He reminded people that you can't plan an economy, it has to grow with the right tools in place to drive it forward, such as education and infrastructure.

The event took place in the function room of the newly-refurbished Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel and was hosted by former Citizen editor, Ian Mean.

Punchline says it was a real treat and a real coup by Business West to get three MPs together in one room. That is a real feat and Business West should be congratulated. It was slightly disappointing that more people didn't make the time to go along to listen to our MPs. They missed a really tasty business breakfast, in all senses of the word.

For a fuller report on what was said at the event, check out the next issue of Punchline magazine.

For information about future Business West events visit https://www.businesswest.co.uk

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk