Thriving businesses are vital. They create wealth, grow the economy, drive innovation, job creation and support communities.
But since Labour came to power, businesses have been hit by repeated tax rises and policy changes which is destroying them.
The former Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, nicknamed Rachel Thieves, raised taxes by £66 billion across her two Budgets, including introducing substantial business rates changes which has doubled the costs for many businesses.
Those budgets exposed the woeful lack of business knowledge in Labour’s front bench and as Kemi Badenoch put it - businesses aren’t cows to be milked.
But sucking money out of companies is all this government has done, meaning there is none left for them to invest in the business, and what with Labour’s new Employment rights on top, it means they are reluctant to take on new recruits too, which we are witnessing with the number of graduate vacancies dropping to their lowest levels on record, unemployment rising and 1 million young people not in work, training or education.
Government needs to understand the vital role businesses play in society before it’s too late.
This week I’m co-hosting and speaking at the North West Business event, along with Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake and Conservative Party mayoral candidate for the new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, Ben Fletcher, to see what else we can do to make government sit up and act.
We want to see growth in our local businesses, good jobs created for local people and to build a stronger economy.
As part of the event, there will be a focussed policy roundtable discussions and also a panel discussion including an open Question and Answer session. Businesses will be able to speak candidly about the pressures facing them and together we can look at ways to unlock growth and opportunity in the North West.
We are very fortunate to have many excellent and successful businesses in Tatton, and I will do everything in my power to support them.
Labour’s new Chancellor will deliver his first Budget next month and from speaking to some of my businesses in recent days, they have told me they fear what is coming.
Businesses cannot take anymore.
