Why doesn’t Labour care about business?
I am worried about the upcoming election.
I am worried that this country is going to end up in stalemate, with four or five warring parties all taking a fraction of the vote and no clear majority. We’ll be back to square one. Worse off than when Theresa May came to power. What a mess.
I’m not alone. Businesses across the UK are sick of all the uncertainty. We are weary of all the political jostling. It has begun to feel like there are only a hand full of genuine politicians left – here or anywhere in the world. Every day there is some new scandal, some ridiculous statement or a broken promise.
What worries me even more is that Labour is clearly growing in popularity. The latest poll shows that 25pc of voters are pro-labour. This compares to 21pc previously. Around 36pc of voters are for the Conservatives but numbers are dropping.
I know that I may get a lot of angry comments because I am sharing my political views (again) but I am compelled to speak. As the saying goes, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
I am an entrepreneur. I am also a Jew. I’m not going to talk about the anti-Semitism that is rife in Labour. I covered that in a previous post. I am going to ask a question instead: why is Labour so anti-business?
Business is what makes this country thrive. We trade. We pay our taxes. We employ people. Without business, there is just the state. I, for one, have no interest in living in a communist country. I believe in competition and the free market. I can’t emphasise enough how bad Labour would be for British business.
A few weeks ago, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor gave a speech about the economy, announcing his four-day working week policy. There was no praise of private enterprise. The Institute of Directors’ put it best, releasing a statement that read: “For a speech from the man who wants to be in charge of the economy, the word business was notable by its absence. Business confidence is already shaky, and directors are unlikely to feel more comfortable now.”
At BigChange, we are already at a 4.5-day week! I have pledged to get to four days by 2021. I don’t need government to tell me what’s best for my people.
Gone are the days where businesses were the bad guys, and at odds with their employees. Today, growing businesses do all they can to find and retain talent. That means treating them well, paying a good salary, and giving them all the benefits the company can afford. Government doesn’t need to intervene and Labour seems hellbent on reinforcing the old stereotype that companies are evil.
I give ￡300,000 a year to charity. I pay ￡3m a year in business taxes. We are growing, and about to take on another 60 people. All of this has been created from nothing. Don’t let Labour cripple businesses.
Founder, Chairman & CEO Build Concierge
5 年This says it all. Labour the party that will bankrupt the UK BBC News - General election 2019: Labour pledges free broadband for all https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50427369
The Water Retail Company - Co-Founder & CTO
5 年It wasn't a Labour Prime Minister who said 'f**k business' it was the current Tory one, It isn't Labour who created the Brexit uncertainty and are toying with the idea of a no deal Brexit, which is leading to uncertainty for business, its the Tories. Labour are planning to invest in public services, infrastructure and decarbonising the economy, these all benefit businesses, what policies do the Tories actually have? You are clearly a great entrepreneur and are doing the right thing for your staff and for society as a whole. This post is your view and you are entitled to it, but I don't see any evidence or figures to support your assertion that Labour doesn't care about business. I too have founded businesses and employed people and I will be out campaigning for a Labour victory, because in my view they do care about business and value its role in society.
Gets ERP projects implemented on time, on budget & on spec.
5 年I can't agree with you, Martin. If I look back on the last few years, it this current bunch that have increased my VAT bill ( I'm on the flat rate scheme ), removed most of the tax relief on dividends and are implementing IR35 which will kill the small business contracting economy. They just seem to want to support their chums in big business whilst stamping on the minnows that make the country - but do nothing to help them with their own personal aims.
Founder @ Hemsley Ltd | Fractional BDM - Generating new business opportunities for SME's, while saving them a HUGE amount of time!
5 年Labour = higher corporation tax for all businesses, large and small. Plus dramatically increased taxes for all middle - higher end tax paying workers. Meaning businesses are worse off AND most of their workers are worse off! Gee thanks!! ????
Founder & CEO | Helping Small Businesses Scale with Digital Strategy and Sales Solutions
5 年David, fully agree I have voted labour all my life and now don’t trust any of these politicians. The problem Labour have is their leader and from speaking with lots of people who have always voted for labour now will not, purely because of JC. People assume just because you don’t like the labour leader you automatically don’t care about the poor, happy to see people at food banks and they assume they know who you are voting for instead! These comments are hurtful and is certainly not the case, we too pledge money to many charities, regularly give food out to the homeless, we have installed free boilers to the elderly where they genuinely do not have the money to pay, carried out free boiler repairs throughout the year to help those in need. We certainly do not need a dictator telling us how to run our business. It is like he has brainwashed his party and hardline followers. Unfortunately every party has their own agenda and it seems like they will say anything to win votes. To keep taxing people is not the answer, how about fixing the tax loop holes so the bigger companies pay their fair share, how can it be allowed to trade in the UK but register your business abroad! How much extra would this generate!