Former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, urged experienced business leaders to consider entering careers in Parliament when he attended an event at Newport's Celtic Manor Resort.

Speaking at an M4 Business Network breakfast, Mr Livingstone told the 160-strong audience that politics needs people who know how to run a business, think long-term, and understand the need to invest.

Livingstone is best known for his time as the first-elected Mayor of London from 2000 to 2008, but he explained that a career in politics hadn’t always been his plan.

His first role after leaving school had been as a lab technician working in cancer research, and that experience had shaped the approach he took when serving as the mayor.

During his time as mayor, he celebrated many successful plans, in particular the implementation of the Oyster travel card and the congestion charge. Acknowledging the fact that many regions feel that London receives disproportionate investment compared to the rest of the nation, Mr Livingstone explained that securing such backing had been challenging.

Reflecting on today’s political scene, Mr Livingstone said that politics had become elitist and the fact that around 25 per cent of the House of Commons were Oxbridge-educated career politicians with little real-world experience, was making government less representative.

In his opinion, politicians often were too focused on today’s media agenda rather than investing for future prosperity. Mr Livingstone explained his belief that aspiring politicians would be better served by studying economics and gaining experience learning how to run things, before moving into political roles.

Paul Byett, chairman of the M4 Business Network and managing partner of its main sponsor, UHY Hacker Young, said: “We are grateful to Mr Livingstone for joining us to deliver an insightful and enjoyable window into his career. There’s no debating that his tenure as mayor saw London cement itself as a one of the world’s leading business and economic hubs.

“I’m sure that many of our guests would agree with Mr Livingstone’s view that the UK would benefit from having experienced business leaders, such as members of our Network, transfer their skills into political roles.”

The event also saw the network welcome its newest sponsor, Gravel Auctioneers Ltd.

The next meeting of the M4 Business Network will take place November 14, when the guest speaker will be Welsh TV presenter and ultra-marathon runner, Lowri Morgan.

To book your place, or for further information on becoming a member visit www.m4businessnetwork.org.