Latest news with #AndrewGriffith
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Reeves's vindictive attacks on business will cost us all
Passions were running high at the Opposition Day debate in Parliament last week. 'This socialist Government does not want people to succeed,' said Andrew Griffith, the shadow trade and business secretary. 'There could be no better example of that than the vindictive family business and family farm death tax, which will carve up successful businesses as and when they are handed down to the next generation,' he added. With one of the 17 parliamentary days allocated to the party as the official opposition, the Conservatives elected to hold a debate on business and the economy, calling on the Government to urgently reverse measures such as the business property relief (BPR) reforms to support family businesses and other enterprises which 'take risks to create wealth and jobs that benefit people across the country'. BPR reforms have elicited strong emotions since they were announced by the Chancellor last year. Now family businesses have the data to support the claim that the policy is already having a chilling effect on the entire economy. Earlier this year, a report by Family Business UK, a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the industry, found that 23pc of family businesses and 17pc of family farms had already cut jobs or paused recruitment in response to the BPR and agricultural property relief (APR) reforms coming into effect next year. It predicted that the changes would result in more than 208,000 jobs being lost by the end of the current parliament, ultimately delivering a net loss of £1.9 billion to the Treasury by 2029. 'Our members tell us, and our sector research shows, that decisions are being taken now to cut jobs, reduce investment and sell assets, putting at risk the future of thousands of businesses,' said Fiona Graham, of Family Business UK. 'The changes to BPR and APR are having an immediate impact on family-owned enterprises, threatening not just their future but the livelihoods of working people and communities right across the country who depend on them,' she added. Playing fast and loose with jobs Georgiana Bristol, chief executive of the Jobs Foundation, told me the Government needed to act fast if the worst impact of the policy was to be mitigated. Speaking from her experience heading the charity, which promotes the role of businesses in creating jobs and sustaining communities, Ms Bristol expressed concern that decisions family firms were being forced to make could not easily be undone in four years' time, particularly if they involved, for example, selling a part of the business to insure it against future tax bills. In a crowded field of ideologically driven economic policies that have backfired on the Treasury, the BPR reforms stand out as particularly prejudiced. Campaigners claim no impact assessments were carried out, nor were any consultations held with the very diverse group of businesses affected by the policy – from family law practices to garden centres to petrol stations. For a Chancellor grappling with an astronomical welfare bill coupled with chronic joblessness, playing fast and loose with stable jobs which sustain local communities, by targeting an especially driven group who are proven job creators, does indeed seem 'vindictive'. 'Running or investing in a business at its core,' said Mr Griffith in the Commons last week, 'is a profound act of human courage – the triumph of optimism over inertia'. That is sadly not a quality that the Chancellor or the Treasury are prepared to countenance.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Small abattoirs in South East face uncertain future as costs rise
The owner of one of the last remaining small abattoirs in the South East has said he is "incredibly concerned" about the future of the Smith, who runs Down Land Traditional Meats in Henfield, West Sussex, said without more financial support from the government his slaughterhouse may not survive. He said that would impact farmers who choose to supply butchers and farm shops, rather than government said it is "committed to working with the meat processing sector in tackling the challenges they face". The cost of disposing of animal waste has risen to £5,000 a week. "An ageing workforce is also a challenge" Mr Smith said, "the average age of a slaughterman is 63. Young people are not interested in coming in to the industry. "The abattoir is not viable and is making a loss. I'm running a wholesale butchery, that's what's keeping our business alive."We do need support and funding." The number of abattoirs in the UK has fallen from about 2,500 in the 1970s to 203 by operations in England fell from 64 in 2019, to 49 in 2023, with five closing in Edward Perrett from Ditchling, West Sussex, uses Mr Smith's abattoir, selling the meat to customers in his farm shop."To have a short journey to an abattoir is good for animal welfare and it keeps the cost down" he said."If the abattoir closed down it would make life very difficult." Mr Smith has the support of Arundel and South Downs Conservative MP Andrew Griffith said: "This is a vital, sometimes neglected part of our food supply chain. There is a real crisis here."The last government set up some grants but we need even more than that and crucially, less red tape." A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Small abattoirs make a vital contribution towards maintaining our resilient food supply chain and provide a competitive route to market for producers of rare and native breeds."We are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest ever budget for sustainable food production, and are unlocking rural growth with reforms to boost farmers' profits."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Andrew Griffith: Tory MP denies making famine remark in Commons
A senior Conservative MP has denied mocking the Irish famine during a debate in the House of Business Secretary Andrew Griffith was accused of making an "offensive" remark about the famine when he addressed the chamber on than one million people died during the famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 after the potato crop to a question in the Commons, the shadow secretary said he was not sure if a person could "subsist entirely on a seed potato", before adding: "It may have been tried historically and not with enormous success". 'No reference to Ireland' Labour MP Adam Jogee challenged the remark in a point of order in the Commons today which he said appeared to reference the Irish potato in a statement to BBC News NI, Andrew Griffith said he made "no reference to Ireland whatsoever" and "if you read the debate, you would see that is clearly the case".He added: "At no point was Mr Jogee in the chamber to represent his own constituents or to hear my remarks in context."The shadow secretary was responding to a question from a Liberal Democrat MP about getting Scottish seed potatoes into the European market when he made the remark. 'Offensive and insensitive' When his reply was quoted in the chamber by Mr Jogee today one MP could be heard saying "shocking".The Labour MP, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on Ireland, asked the commons deputy Speaker how best to "remedy any offence"."These words appear to be referencing the tragedy of the Irish potato famine, which, if true, is of course offensive and insensitive and would have taken place in the United Kingdom," he deputy speaker said the chair was not responsible for the shadow secretary of state's remarks.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Tory MP appeared to make ‘offensive' Irish potato famine remark, Commons told
A senior Conservative MP appeared to make 'offensive and insensitive' comments about the Irish potato famine, the Commons has heard. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith, responding to a question, said he was not sure if a person could 'subsist entirely on a seed potato' before adding it 'may have been tried historically and not with enormous success'. Labour MP Adam Jogee said the words appeared to reference the mid-19th century tragedy, which resulted in around one million deaths after the potato crop failed in successive years. Speaking during a Commons debate on the economy on Wednesday, Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) intervened to raise the seed potato industry. He said: 'We have been crying out to get the best of Scottish seed potatoes into European markets, and therefore I do say thank you to the Government for this, it means a lot to farmers, and I have had very positive comments about it. I am being absolutely fair-minded about that.' Mr Griffith, in his reply, said: 'I am not sure if one can subsist entirely on a seed potato, I think that may have been tried historically and not with enormous success, but I congratulate the honourable member on the success of his seed potato industry.' On Thursday, Mr Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme) raised a point of order in connection with the remarks made by Mr Griffith. After Mr Jogee read out the words spoken by Mr Griffith in the debate, one MP could be heard saying: 'Shocking.' Mr Jogee, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on Ireland and the Irish in Britain, added: 'These words appear to be referencing the tragedy of the Irish potato famine which, if true, is of course offensive and insensitive and, of course, would have taken place at the time in the United Kingdom. 'So can you please advise on how best we can remedy any offence caused by outlining the process for an honourable member to withdraw such a statement?' Deputy Speaker Judith Cummins replied: 'The chair is not responsible for the shadow secretary of state's remarks but the honourable member has put his point on the record.'
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Starmer branded 'the closet Remainer who never got over losing referendum' as Tories claim EU deal will unleash 'free movement by the back door'
Sir Keir Starmer was accused of being a 'closet Remainer' who failed to 'get over' the result of the 2016 EU referendum today as he revealed his new post-Brexit deal with Brussels. Writing for MailOnline Andrew Griffith, the shadow business and trade secretary accused him of moving towards 'freedom of movement by the back door' with plans for a youth mobility scheme. The Prime Minister has agreed to a 'youth experience' scheme with the EU that could allow thousands of 18 to 35-year-olds to come to Britain to live and work each year. Officials have not put a figure on how many people would be admitted, with details yet to be hammered out. But Sir Keir insisted that the number covered would be capped. Such a scheme will allow young people from the EU to come to Britain - and UK nationals to head to the bloc - to work, study or simply travel for a 'limited period'. The document also stated the 'dedicated visa path' would ensure 'the overall number of participants is acceptable to both sides'. However Mr Griffith argued it would lead to 'low-wage, low skill migrants undercutting British workers, knocking young people down the housing ladder and driving salaries down.' He added: 'Unlimited migration is the last thing we need. But the Youth Mobility Scheme Starmer is moving towards is free movement by the back door.' Downing Street said the EU scheme would mirror the UK's existing youth mobility schemes with countries such as Australia and New Zealand. This allows 18 to 35-year-olds from Down Under to apply for a youth mobility visa to live and work in the UK for up to two years, with the possibility for a one-year extension. For this year, the number of youth visas is capped at 42,000 for Australians and 9,500 for those from New Zealand. It has previously been reported the Government wants an annual cap of 70,000 visas for EU nationals under the proposed youth mobility scheme with Brussels. A dispute over an annual cap - as well as EU nationals having to pay the NHS surcharge - were said to be major sticking points in agreeing the final terms of the scheme prior to Monday's summit. Kemi Badenoch signalled she supported the principle of youth mobility schemes with EU countries, but stressed the Government's deal would not be beneficial to the UK. 'They are good ideas. We support them. What we do not support is non-capped, non-time limited migration,' the Conservative leader said when asked about the principle of such deals. At a central London press conference, she added: 'There is a big difference between an 18-year-old from France who's coming for a gap year and a 30-year-old with several children who's coming from a much poorer EU country like Bulgaria, Romania. 'What we wanted to do was have youth mobility schemes with specific countries. That is not what we will get with what this Government is negotiating.' We should have known this was coming. Starmer is the closet Remainer who never quite got over his side losing, writes Andrew Griffith And there we have it – Keir Starmer's capitulation to the EU laid bare. As his Ministers say, it is the first step. And they are right, it is the first step in a walk of shame back to the continent. It is a surrender summit. A Brexit betrayal. The cop-out conference that sells our hard-fought freedoms down the river. We should have known this was coming. Starmer is the closet Remainer who never quite got over his side losing almost 10 years ago. He energetically campaigned for a second referendum with free movement of people, and it looks like he will finally get his way. Unlimited migration is the last thing we need. But the Youth Mobility Scheme Starmer is moving towards is free movement by the back door. Sixty million people as far away as Bucharest would be covered by this scheme. That's uncontrollable levels of low-wage, low skill migrants undercutting British workers, knocking young people down the housing ladder and driving salaries down. As if our troubles with low-wage migration were not bad enough, just as Starmer has begun to talk tough, he is EU-turning on commitments he made just last week. The PM is drowning out the sound of his old promises with Ode to Joy whilst he cheerfully hands over Britain's sovereignty. Labour has already made the UK a hostile environment for businesses. Their jobs tax, hiked business rates and employment rights bill are the triple whammy, mercilessly knocking out businesses of all sizes across Britain. This deal gives them no respite. And taxpayers will have to pay for the privilege of being regulated by the EU. The much-vaunted e-gates deal Starmer has been crowing about, and sacrificed so much for, is smoke and mirrors. We're right where we were before, as member states still need to agree to the measure first. The Government has also done a victory lap about adding 0.03 per cent onto our GDP by 2040. That pales in comparison to the costs they are burdening our businesses with, for example the EU's carbon pricing scheme – making Net Zero even more expensive. Tying entire swathes of the economy to rules made in Brussels, may put a big grin on Ursula von der Leyen's face, but it will only hold us further back. Keir Starmer is kicking businesses whilst they are down. Clearly, he still doesn't understand that only businesses create jobs – and any price is worth paying to rejoin his favourite club of out-of-touch liberal elites. One Brexit dividends Britain has particularly benefitted from is our ability to sign trade deals. For example, the Trans Pacific Partnership Kemi Badenoch secured when she was Trade Secretary – which gives us access to a trading bloc larger than the EU with the fastest growing economies in the world. Taking us back to the EU curtails that ability, and locks us out of countless opportunities. With Surrender Starmer, the world's worst negotiator in charge, that may not seem like many opportunities missed, but it will be hugely damaging for our long-term prospects. Leaders the world over are now seeing the UK as a soft touch. Starmer is like the nervous schoolboy who hands over his lunch money without even being asked — so it's no wonder the world's playground bullies are queuing up. Far from being an island of strangers, Labour are fast making Britain an island of losers. We had a vision for Britain where we could make our own laws, forge game-changing trade deals and be rule makers – not rule takers. The only vision our mediocre, middle manager-in-chief has in mind is one of a managed decline as a colony of the EU. Today, Starmer has condemned Brexit to a death by a thousand bureaucratic cuts and people should not forgive, nor should they forget.
