Business Articles

Ken Clarke - Labour's recession hits manufacturing - Thursday, January 7th 2010
Ken Clarke, the Shadow Business Secretary, has revealed that manufacturing output has declined by almost 13% during Labour's recession.

 

George Osborne: Labour have failed to deal with the deficit - Wednesday 9th December 2009
In his Pre-Budget Report response, George Osborne slammed Labour for ducking the tough choices on public spending.

 

David Cameron: Tackling the deficit is not an alternative to economic growth - 23rd November 2009
In his speech to the CBI, David Cameron has set out how the Conservative Party would tackle the growing deficit and get the economy growing again if they win the next election. David added that tackling the deficit is not an alternative to economic growth - it is part of the solution.

 

George Osborne: Progressive reform in an age of austerity - Tuesday 11th August 2009
The Shadow Chancellor has said that the Conservative Party is now the most powerful vehicle for change, in a speech delivered at Demos on Tuesday.

 

George Osborne launches white paper on financial regulation - Monday 20th July 2009
George Osborne has this morning set out plans to abolish the failed tripartite system of regulation and give the Bank of England responsibility for maintaining financial stability. At a speech in the Bloomberg offices, the Shadow Chancellor said the regulation system set up by Gordon Brown had failed. George Osborne also launched a white paper on financial regulation entitles 'From crisis to confidence: Plan for sound banking'. The document explains how a Conservative Government will create a strong regulatory framework: - The Bank of England will be responsible for macro-prudential regulation, with the power to call 'time on debt' in the economy. - It will also be responsible for the micro-prudential regulation of all banks, building societies and other significant financial institutions, with the power to regulate their pay structures, risk, complexity and size. - The Financial Services Authority (FSA) will be abolished, and a new Consumer Protection Agency created instead. This will be given a mandate to act as a consumer champion, and will be much more consumer - orientated, transparent and focused body than the FSA. - Britain's interests in Europe will be protected, and a senior Treasury minister with responsibility for European financial regulation will spend as much time as necessary in Brussels to defend our national interest. - The Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission will conduct a focused examination of the effects of consolidation in the retail banking sector. During the speech,

 

Conservative Listening to Business Forum - Thursday 16th July 2009
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Kenneth Clarke MP, has today hosted a business forum to listen to the views and concerns of the UK's top companies on how the Conservative Party can strengthen and improve the relationship between government and business.

 

George Osborne: Fundamental Reform of Financial Regulation - Wednesday July 8th 2009
In a statement to the House of Commons, following Alistair Darling's Statement on Financial Regulation, the Shadow Chancellor has said that only a change of Government will change the way we regulate our banking system. Following a review by Sir James Sassoon in March 2009, George Osborne has set out that we will abolish the failed tripartite system and give responsibility to financial stability, and the necessary powers to the Bank of England: - We will put the Bank of England in charge of the prudential supervision of banks, building societies and other significant financial institutions. - We will have a powerful and focused consumer regulator sitting alongside the Bank.

 

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.

 

George Osborne: Building a Green Technology Recovery - Thursday 16th April 2009
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and Shadow Energy & Climate Change Secretary Greg Clark have announced ten measures that the Government could introduce at the 2009 Budget that would unleash at least £30 billion of private sector investment, and lay the foundations for a stable, competitive and low carbon recovery.

 

Jeremy Hunt: Tourism revolution is an essential part of our recovery - Thursday 2nd April 2009
Jeremy Hunt said that tourism could generate an additional £22 billion for the economy and 50,000 jobs.

 

David Cameron: We need to bring law and order to the financial markets - 24th March 2009
Addressing a conference at the London Stock Exchange on the Regulation of Capitalism in the Post Bureaucratic Age, David Cameron spoke on the need to bring law and order to the financial markets.

 

David Cameron calls for proper regulation to restore financial confidence - Tuesday 24th March 2009
Speaking at the London Stock Exchange, David Cameron has set out out the Conservative strategy to restore financial confidence and ensure there is a lasting economic recovery. David outlined that the Conservative approach would be to "cut regulation where the problem is too much of it" - like the red tape which is strangling small business.

 

The Conservative Party promise to cut business rates for small shops and firms during the recession - Friday 6th March 2009
The Conservative Party has today announced new proposals that a Conservative Government would cut taxes and paperwork for small shops and small firms. The new pledge will ensure that small business rate relief is applied automatically to firms, rather than businesses having to claim it and fill out time-consuming forms.

 

George Osborne calls for new banking settlement - Monday 2nd February 2009
George Osborne called for a new settlement between banks and society in a speech at the London Stock Exchange yesterday. The Shadow Chancellor stressed the settlement must allow “a profitable and successful financial” services sector in the UK – but must also provide protection for taxpayers and the broader economy. George condemned the idea that the only goal of macroeconomic policy should be to keep consumer price inflation near target. He also explained how, through our Debt Responsibility Mechanism, the Bank of England will monitor the levels of leverage in the system and call time on excessive debt.

 

George Osborne: Second bank bailout is an admission of guilt - Monday 19th January 2009
George Osborne has stressed that Labour's plans for a second bank bailout is the "clearest possible admission" that the first bailout has failed. The Shadow Chancellor called on Alistair Darling to be straight with the British public and stop pretending the latest bailout was "some long-planned, carefully thought-through 'second phase' of government policy." He stressed that because of the failure of the first bailout, the Government now has no option but to attempt a second bailout. And he accused Labour of achieving nothing with their efforts on the economy, highlighting the failure of their VAT cut as well as their endless summits and initiatives: "The Prime Minister finally has been forced to confront the truth: he hasn't saved the world; he certainly hasn't saved the economy, and he hasn't even yet saved the banks."

 

David Cameron: Britain's Economic Future - Monday January 5 2009
David Cameron has announced a series of new policies to encourage saving and ensure a good future for Britain’s economy. He attacked Gordon Brown for allowing the level of government, corporate and personal debt to rise too high, and warned that Labour’s Debt Crisis means we are in a weaker economic position than other countries. He stressed, “We need to make a really big change: from an economy built on debt to an economy built on saving; from a country and government that has lived beyond its means to one that lives within its means.”

 

David Cameron: New Year Message
In my New Year message three years ago, I said that I wanted the modern Conservative Party to be a voice for change, optimism and hope. What was true in the good times is even truer now that times are tough, and getting tougher. People are looking to us for hope in these dark days, and we must be ready to offer it: hard-edged hope, built on a clear-sighted analysis of what has gone wrong and how we can put it right.

 

George Osborne: Joining the euro is not the solution to Britain's problems - Friday 5th December 2008
Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has stressed that joining the euro will not solve Britain's economic problems. George stressed that joinng the euro is "exactly the wrong solution" to our economic difficulties: "Sterling's decline is the result of a damning verdict from international markets on British economic policy. The right solution is better policy to restore confidence in Britain's long term prospects."

 

Alan Duncan: Small businesses hit by stealth VAT bombshell - Wednesday 26th November 2008
Gordon Brown's Tax Bombshell Budget has unravelled further as it emerged that the 2.5% cut in VAT rates will not be passed on to all businesses. The small print of the Pre-Budget Report has revealed that while the standard VAT rate has been cut by 2.5%, the flat rates for small firms have not been cut by the same amount.

 

Alan Duncan: Small print in the Pre-Budget Report reveals Brown's small business bombshell - Tuesday 25th November 2008
As Gordon Brown announces that the Pre-Budget Report will provide relief for businesses, closer scrutiny has shown that businesses will actually come under further pressure from the serious increase in transport costs and the huge bill for implementing VAT changes.

 

The National Loan Guarantee Scheme Bill
The Conservatives have published a draft Bill that would introduce a National Loan Guarantee Scheme. This would address the root cause of the credit crunch and would save jobs by getting more credit flowing to businesses at lower interest rates.

 

George Osborne: Response to Pre-Budget Report 2008 - Monday 24 November 2008
George Osborne responds to the Pre-Budget Report, delivered by Chancellor, Alastair Darling, this afternoon.

 

David Cameron: The Conservative approach to the recession - Monday 24th November 2008
Speaking at the CBI Annual Conference, David Cameron has outlined the Conservative approach to the recession, in preparation for the Pre-Budget Report to be delivered by the Chancellor later today.

 

David Cameron: Keep Britain Working - Tax cuts for new jobs. Tuesday 11th November 2008
David Cameron has proposed giving tax cuts to employers who hire new workers. This could create 350,000 new jobs over the next year.

 

David Cameron: We need economic change - Friday 7th November 2008
In a speech on the economy to business leaders at the Glasgow Science Centre today, Conservative Party Leader, David Cameron, has set out proposals to introduce a simpler tax system and tackle red tape to enable individuals more opportunities to set up their own businesses. David said that it is important that we help businesses in the economic downturn to ensure the survival of businesses by reducing national insurance for the smallest businesses and delaying their VAT bills.

 

George Osborne: Economic policy of the recession
George Osborne speech at the LSE on 31 October 2008

 

George Osborne calls for money for small businesses - Tuesday 28th October 2008
George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor, has set out the policy changes which he thinks should be introduced to get money back into small businesses. George has commented on the need to make it easier for small businesses to win Government contracts, in providing an important source of revenue during the financial crisis.

 

George Osborne's response to Chancellor's statement on bank rescue: Wednesday 8 October 2008
George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor, responds to Chancellor, Alastair Darling’s statement on bank rescue and offers support on behalf of the Conservative Party for the package announced including the steps made on inter-bank lending.

 

David Cameron: The Conservative plan for a responsible economy - Friday, October 17 2008
David Cameron has outlined our long-term plans to repair the economy and analysed how we got into the economic crisis in the first place. He condemned irresponsible capitalism and irresponsible government, and stressed that, “To repair the broken economy, in the long term, we need economic responsibility.”

 

George Osborne: UK taxpayer footing bill for boom that turned to bust - Monday October 13 2008
George Osborne responds to the Chancellor's decision to step in and rescue the banks during the current economic crisis. George reaffirms the offer made by the Conservatives to work together with the government on solving this finanical crisis and on the banking bill.

 

Alan Duncan - Debate on unemployment: 7 October 2008
Alan Duncan: Labour Governments always run out of money, and once this crisis is behind us the best prospects for an economic recovery will come only from a change of Government.

 

Mark Prisk: Helping Small Businesses Survive
In the last couple of weeks, Conservatives have made positive proposals to help small businesses survive. We have a plan of action to help cut costs, ease cash flow and keep jobs. We have also made it clear to the high street banks that we expect them to behave responsibly and we will challenge unreasonable behaviour towards good businesses.

 

George Osborne: We must work together to prevent a deep recession - Monday October 6 2008
George Osborne has said we need to work together to stop Britain sliding from "a banking crisis into a deep recession".

 

David Cameron: We will help give banks the capital they need
David Cameron speaks out about the current financial crisis - Monday 6 October 2008

 

David Cameron: Conference speech 2008
David Cameron: Conference speech 2008

 

Alan Duncan's speech to conference 2008
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Alan Duncan, shadow secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory, said:

 

Ken Clarke - Labour's recession hits manufacturing - Thursday, January 7th 2010
Ken Clarke, the Shadow Business Secretary, has revealed that manufacturing output has declined by almost 13% during Labour's recession.

 

David Cameron: Together we will find a way through - Tuesday September 30 2008
David Cameron speaking at Party Conference in Birmingham

 

George Osborne: We have work to do and a future to build - Monday September 29 2008
George Osborne outlined proposals for a new Office for Budget Responsibility to be set up. The post, which is independent of the government, would hold the Conservative Party accountable and ensure that promises made by the Conservatives are fulfilled.

 

George Osborne: No more stealth taxes
George Osborne speaking at the launch of the 'Making Taxes Simpler' report at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales

 

Alan Duncan's Speech To The Trade Association Annual Conference
Alan Duncan is Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Trade & Industry & Energy.

 

George Osborne Speaking on the Conservative Vision for the Economy
In a speech at the Policy Exchange thinktank on 14th April, George Osborne blamed Mr. Brown for the economic problems facing Britain and outlined an alternative vision for the economy.

 

David Cameron speaks at the CBI Conference
Speaking at the CBI Conference today David Cameron said: We’re meeting at a time of considerable economic anxiety and uncertainty. But before I answer your questions, I want to give you an element of political certainty…

 

David Cameron's Speech to North East Economic Forum - Thursday 15th November
Economic stability must be the top priority of government

 

George Osborne's Speech at the Conservative Party Conference
George Osborne: It's Time for Aspiration

 

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Task Force - Final Report Released
An Innovative Society: Capturing the Potential of Science and Engineering

 

Theresa May's Speech about the Gender Pay Gap
May: Fair Play on Women's Pay

 

David Cameron's speech at the London School of Economics and Political Science
Meeting the economic challenges of the future

 

Jonathan Djanogly's Speech to the Chartered Secretaries Professional Practice Group
An Analysis of the Practical Aspects of the Companies Act 2006

 

David Cameron's Speech about the Music Business
David Cameron: A flourishing music scene plays a huge role in bolstering the vibrancy of our culture

 

George Osborne: Making venture capital a beacon of British excellence
Speaking to the annual dinner of the BVCA on the 12th March 2007 Shadow Chancellor George Osborne outlined his support for the private equity industry and appealed to the industry to stand up to its critics by explaining how it is a beacon of British excellence.

 

Construction's role in the economy
Mark Prisk MP's speech to the Confederation of Construction Specialists. Within the speech he sets out a five point plan for how the Conservatives would approach sustainable housing policy.

 

Alan Duncan's speech for Regional Economic Policy: What's Best for Business?
In a speech at Policy Exchange, on 30th June 2008, Alan Duncan discussed the changing relationship between government and the public as a national rather than a regional issue, as the Conservative Party remain committed to making Britain the ideal place to develop and nurture business.

 

Small Business Taskforce Interim Report
Mark Prisk MP is Conservative Shadow Minister for Business and Enterprise and is writing after the publication of the Conservatives' Small Business Task Force Interim Report published last week. Click here to download the report.

 

Backing Small Business: a new direction
Mark Prisk MP is Conservative Shadow Minister for Business and Enterprise