Working for British interests

In September I wrote for Southwark Business Today about the heavy burden that the cost-of-living crisis is taking on local people and businesses. Sadly, the Government did not take the opportunity of the Autumn Statement to alleviate the pressure on local employers or constituents more widely.

The Tories have promised to end late payments and reform business rates since 2010. The Statement also turned up empty on these issues. Our tax regime is worsening. The tax burden on working people is the highest since 1949. Compared to the overall rate of tax in 2009-2010, taxes are £4000 higher per household and prices continue to soar, especially for food shopping and energy bills. The Chancellor seemed to want to be patted on the back for not crashing the economy a la Truss, but his sums do not add up either when we examine the ensuing years. The limited changes made in 2023 are predicated on eye-watering cuts from 2025, including to education and hospitals despite the crumbling concrete issues affecting many schools and the longest waiting lists in the NHS’ history. Labour’s Chancellor-in-waiting, Rachel Reeves, is ensuring the Party is in a stronger position on the economy. She will insist we provide a costed manifesto when the next election comes and is enforcing a more disciplined approach to policy announcements. Labour is promising to modernise business rates with a system fit for the 21st century, as well as to tackle the scourge of late payments and to create a level playing field for smaller firms to access public contracts. Labour will, if elected, also establish GB Energy and help reduce bills for domestic and commercial consumers across the country.

I have also been pushing again for more help to British businesses in Westminster. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill has now completed Commons stages, but Ministers are trying to dodge accepting my amendment which would remove unsafe products from sale online. My ‘takedown powers’ would remove counterfeit or dangerous goods and help ensure only products that meet UK safety standards can be marketed. Bermondsey-based Electrical Safety First back the proposals and they follow a coroner specifically citing a faulty e-bike charger bought online as the direct cause of death of a young man in London who died when the battery overheated and caused a house fire. Other deaths have occurred but Minister are delaying acting despite the EU now having powers to tackle the problem that UK customers are not provided sadly.

I will continue to urge caution to customers in the UK when they buy online, especially as cheaper goods seem more attractive during the festive season for those doing their Christmas shopping. Consumers across the country will only be safe when buying online if the Government accepts the amendments and helps our high streets, manufacturers and consumers alike. It should not be this difficult to get Ministers to work for British interests, but I will keep plugging away until they do!