Business deserves better from a Government – and Tories must deliver
The Conservative Party must overhaul the relationship between Government and business if it is to win a General Election says Northampton South MP, Brian Binley
Writing in a policy paper to be published this week, Mr Binley – himself a successful businessman before entering the House of Commons two ago – suggests that a Conservative Government must be a ‘midwife’ to new businesses.
In the article, written for the Cornerstone Group of MPs, Mr Binley writes:
‘The cost of regulation to British businesses has dramatically increased year on year under the present Labour Government and is generally considered by business to be one of the most important inhibitors to the nation’s competitive thrust.
‘Three quarters of the cost of that regulation emanates from the European Union and the remainder from the British Government.
We need to reduce the flow of regulation emanating from the EU and have the courage to reject those regulations that are not beneficial to the business sector.’
Among the suggestions Mr Binley makes as to how a Conservative administration could alter relations with the business sector for the better are reduced business taxation and the creation of a culture where entrepreneurs and enterprise managers are admired and successful enterprises lauded. Mr Binley writes:
‘We must immediately set to work to change the general perception of enterprise in our schools, in government and with the public at large. All too often, entrepreneurs are seen as solely self-interested and certainly less heroic than sportsmen and pop stars. Many of our most talented citizens are choosing more comfortable, safer careers in public life, the professions, the City and in PLC’s, yet risk-taking is a critical driver of national economic success.’
Mr Binley said of his article:
‘I am very proud to be able to make this contribution to the debate on small business growth.
The Government is almost incapable of properly understanding, let alone supporting, the business sector. A Conservative Government therefore should transfer the task of small business support in its entirety and place it in the hands of an organisation which is fully conversant with both the culture and the difficulties faced by the sector.
Government should change its whole approach to small business from one of “doing” to one of “enabling.”
I hope this policy paper might start a ball rolling in that regard.’
