‘Labour just doesn’t understand business’
BUSINESSES’ confidence in the UK has plummeted to levels not seen since the pandemic. Why? It’s a direct result of the Labour government’s disastrous policies.
It’s hardly surprising Labour’s policies are having such a devastating impact on business when not a single member of the cabinet has ever owned or ran a business.
They do not get what it takes to set up a business, the risks you take or the pressures felt by business owners.
As you all know, when I was your MP, I supported business because I knew how hard it was based on my own 30 years’ experience starting up and running a business.
Businesses are the engine of our economy. They create jobs, not government. But Labour doesn’t get that.
Take Labour’s breaking of their manifesto commitment by imposing a £25billion National Insurance jobs tax.
Businesses are warning this jobs tax will lead to price rises and job cuts and now their warnings are coming true with supermarkets warning of a return to inflation, pubs pushing up the price of a pint and employers across the country warning of redundancies.
New analysis by Bloomberg shows the impact of Labour’s jobs tax will be felt mostly through a reduction in hours – which may cost 130,000 British jobs.
Following Labour’s first budget, the British Retail Consortium wrote to the Chancellor, with more than 80 businesses including Aldi, Amazon, and Tesco warning that ‘for any retailer, large or small, it will not be possible to absorb such significant cost increases over such a short timescale.
The effect will be to increase inflation, slow pay growth, cause shop closures, and reduce jobs, especially at the entry level.’
Labour claims to be the party for working people, but the policies they’re pursuing will hurt working people the most through higher prices, higher bills and slow pay growth.
I’m afraid Labour’s betrayal of business is damaging the economy and harming working people – and Conservatives will do all we can as an effective opposition to stop Labour’s National Insurance jobs tax.
This is Labour’s Britain, and we’re only five months in.
Rachel Maclean
‘New road layout just causing more danger’
DURING the summer holiday time, Redditch Borough Council altered the road layout on Colts Lane by Arrow Valley First School.
They have used up half of the road to create a walkway around the bridge and put priority signage for cars coming down the road.
Unfortunately because the walkway is on the brow of the hill, you can’t see oncoming traffic when you are driving up the hill towards the school, causing a huge blind spot.
Also there is a keep clear warning for Eyton Close on the left which means you have to stop further down still.
There is also a turnout from Fownhope Close directly before the new layout and they are meant to give way to all traffic.
Pedestrians just walk across the road even though its not a walkway, I have also seen them walking up the road through the layout without using the walkway
The school-run cars now park in Fownhope as the parking has reduced – they just pile out at the end of the school day.
I have already seen numerous near-misses at non-school times. In fact on my way to work the other night there was almost a fight as two car drivers both refused to reverse and give way.
Tracey Reynolds
‘Homeless need your help this Christmas’
LAST week it was revealed that across England nearly 160,000 children will spend Christmas without a safe home.
Many won’t have known the joy of their own room, or Christmas dinner around the table with family or presents under the tree.
But they will know the anxiety of watching their parents cook meals in a kettle or fight a losing battle against the cold and damp seeping through their temporary accommodation walls.
No child should have to face this.
Across Britain homelessness is rising.
High rents and increasing living costs are pushing more and more people to the brink.
Now with the nights getting bitterly cold, people with nowhere to go will be forced to move between sofas, night buses and 24-hour cafes, in a desperate effort to stay safe and warm.
This is the brutal reality of being without a safe home and it must change.
At Crisis, we will soon be opening our Christmas services once again to support thousands of people experiencing rough sleeping or living in insecure accommodation such as hostels and B&Bs.
Once through our doors, people will have access to the specialist support we provide all-year-round so they can develop the skills and confidence to rebuild their lives away from homelessness.
But this vital work is only possible with the generosity of the British public.
So, we are asking you to help someone leave homelessness behind for good by giving the gift of a Crisis Christmas.
Help us be there for anyone who needs us.
Visit crisis.org.uk/christmasgift to donate to Crisis.
Matt Downie,
Chief executive at Crisis
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EDITORS COMMENT
IT WAS heartbreaking to read that NewStarts which worked so hard to find a premises in Redditch has been given notice to leave its home and is now searching for a new one.
The charity provides so much for the community and its Redditch base also helped other charities do the same.
If you can help find it a new place, please get in touch so NewStarts’ and the other charities’ good work can continue to make a difference in the borough.
