Making Britain the best place in the world to do business
No government can run business and create wealth. What governments can do is create the best possible conditions for wealth creation. So I believe the next Conservative government should set itself a simple economic objective: to make Britain the best place in the world to do business
Rt Hon David Cameron MP
Conservative Business Relations is a forum for allowing leaders of the business community to engage with the Conservative Party and discuss policy issues. Through a regular programme of sectoral and regional events, business leaders can discuss their concerns and ideas with key members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party. Recent events have included policy seminars for the industrial and manufacturing sector and a networking reception for the public affairs industry.
John Penrose: The Equality Bill: "The devil's in the detail" - Wednesday July 1st 2009
John Penrose on why the Government's new Equality Bill must not result in extra red tape for British businesses
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George Osborne: Laying the path to a greener and more prosperous future - Thursday, June 18th 2009
George Osborne has today launched the UK's first trading markets for green companies.
Speaking at the London Stock Exchange, the Shadow Chancellor said this innovation would, in years to come, be seen as a "milestone" towards making the City of London the best place in the world for green investment.
George went on to say that ideas like this will "help to bring an end the stale argument that we have to choose between economic growth and the environment", which he said had always been a "false choice".
He pointed to research by the Environment Agency, who have calculated that British manufacturing could increase its profits by up to £3 billion in environmental best practices become standard across the board, and the International Labour Organisation, who have said that 20 million new jobs could be created globally in the green technology sector in the years ahead.
George concluded by stating that this approach was part of the "new British economic model" proposed by the Conservatives, of a more stable and balanced low carbon economy.
George Osborne stresses the need to talk honestly about cuts - Monday, June 15 2009
George Osborne has accused Gordon Brown of "plain dishonesty" for trying to pretend that there won't be any spending cuts.
The Shadow Chancellor said it was "ridiculous" for Mr. Brown to claim that his plans to cut real spending on public servies equate to 'more Labour investment' - and he told the Prime Minister to "tell the public the truth instead of treating them like fools".
In an article in the Times, George stressed the "real dividing line" in British politics is "not 'cut versus investment', but honesty versus dishonesty":
"Gordon Brown's claim that real spending will rise under Labour is akin to his claim that the 10p tax rise didn't hit the poor and that Alistair Darling is his first choice as Chancellor - it is just not true."
George admitted that the Conservatives had initially "fought shy of using the 'c' word - cuts", but stressed it was time to "talk honestly to the public about the sepnding decisions that need to be taken":
"We should have the confidence to tell the public the truth that Britain faces a debt crisis; that existing plans show that real spending will have to be cut, whoever is elected; and that the bills of rising unemployment and the huge interest costs of soaring national debt mean that many government departments will face budget cuts."
George Osborne outlines plans for "a new British economic model" - Tuesday, June 9 2009
George Osborne has stressed the need to learn the lessons of the past decade and ensure our economy recovery - when it comes - is strong, sustainable and balanced.
In a speech to the Association of British Insurers, the Shadow Chancellor said that "the model of economic growth pursued over the last ten years is fundamentally broken" and outlined plans for a "new British economic model".
George explained that the economic policy of a Conservative Government would be rooted in three priorities:
The immediate need to restore Britain's international credibility and preserve our credit rating by dealing with our huge budget deficit.
The transition from an economy built on excessive debt to one built on savings and investment, re-focussing our economy from the rush for short-term gains to the pursuit of long-term returns.
George said, "If we follow these three priorities I believe we can do much more than simply survive this recession. We can emerge from it with a stronger, more geographically balanced, and more broadly based economy in which more of the British people feel they are sharing in its success."
He warned that re-electing Labour will mean "more instability, higher taxes, higher debt and higher debt interest costs" - and stressed:
"Electing a new Conservative Government is the safer choice for a strong recovery."
Businesses need better, not more regulation- Thursday, May 14 2009
At the launch of the Arculus Report into better regulation, Ken Clarke outlined plans to cut the cost of red tape to business during the recession.
The Shadow Business Secretary promised that a Conservative Government would scrap redundant regulators and cut the cost of new regulations.
And he welcomed a number of the policies recommended by Sir David Arculus, Tony Blair’s former regulation adviser, to reduce the burden of regulation, including:
* A system of regulatory budgets imposing caps on the number of new regulations which can be introduced by all Whitehall departments.
* Subjecting all regulators to ‘sunset clauses’, reviewing their performance every seven years and scrapping or merging underperforming watchdogs.
Ken said he hoped the Arculus report would lead to "an informed and productive debate on better regulation".
He stressed, “At a time when the country is in recession, businesses need better, not more regulation, to help them stimulate economic recovery.”
And he added, “By adopting proposals to ensure that the costs from new regulations are offset by cuts to existing red tape and that redundant quangos can be scrapped or merged, the Conservative Party will help free businesses from the costly bureaucracy which so many have suffered under during Labour's time in office.”
George Osborne gives his reaction to the budget- Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Watch George Osborne's budget response by clicking on this video.
Watch George Osborne’s reaction here
Read David Cameron's full response