Paul Holmes

My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point, and I go through the same thing as him. One of the most frustrating things on a Friday, when I go to see businesses in my area, is that I have no hope to give them because this Government have given them no hope. The Government need to listen to business people like Matthew who create the jobs and the wealth in the country that they love spending so much. Ministers must recognise that businesses are not simply a source of revenue for the Treasury; they are the wealth creators of our economy. That is why I am delighted that the Leader of the Opposition has set out our party’s policies on how we would help to meet the challenge that the Government have caused including, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Stuart Andrew) said, by halving national insurance contributions for people aged 21 to 24, saving £1,500 for employers, and abolishing business rates for hospitality. I also believe that we need to consider a VAT cut for hospitality businesses. If we want thriving high streets, more jobs, better wages and a stronger economy, we must start by making Britain a better place to do business. Employers are working people because they create prosperity—not the Government, and certainly not this Government who are actively making the situation worse. It is not the Government who create prosperity; it is the people and businesses of this country, and they deserve better than what they are getting under this dire Labour Government.