Mark Ferguson

Mark Ferguson

Labour — Gateshead Central and Whickham

Speaking in the House of Commons on 26 February 2025

Debate

Family Businesses

Contribution

I have spoken to Josh who runs the business about every single aspect of it and I assure Members that he is delighted with how his business is going. I am delighted—[Interruption.] Opposition Members are chuntering from a sedentary position, as of course is their right, but my high street in Gateshead, for example, which I am pleased to say the Minister who will be responding later has been to visit, was wrecked under the last Government. The decisions made by the last Government had a profound impact on my high street and those across the country, so the idea that the Conservatives are tribunes of small business is for the birds. This Government are going to rebuild the great British high street and we will do so by supporting small businesses. I will rightly be voting against the motion because I am afraid, to quote a former leader of the Conservative party, that it is an “inverted pyramid of piffle”.

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