- Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson will all attempt to woo the UK's business leaders with speeches to the CBI's annual conference later.
Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson will all attempt to woo the UK’s business leaders with speeches to the CBI’s annual conference later.
Mr Johnson will vow to end Brexit “uncertainty” and unveil Tory plans to cut business rates if he is returned to power in next month’s general election.
Mr Corbyn will set out Labour’s plans for 320,000 apprenticeships in England.
And Ms Swinson will say the Lib Dems are the “natural party of business” because they want to cancel Brexit.
Mr Johnson is hoping to win a majority on 12 December, get his Brexit deal taking the UK out of the EU into law by 31 January, and begin talks with Brussels on a permanent trading relationship.
The Conservative leader is expected to tell the CBI’s conference: “Big business didn’t want Brexit. You made that clear in 2016 and this body said it louder than any other.
“But what is also clear is that what you want now – and have wanted for some time – is certainty.”
Mr Johnson will announce policies to help businesses “make the most of Brexit”, including a review of business rates in England, with the aim of reducing the overall burden of the tax.
The Conservatives also say they plan a cut in National Insurance contributions for employers, who already benefit from a reduction known as the employment allowance.
They would increase this from £3,000 to £4,000.
They say this would amount to a tax cut of up to £1,000 for more than half a million businesses.
They would also increase the Research and Development tax credit rate from 12% to 13%, which the party says will boost manufacturing and the professional, scientific and technical services sectors.
The party also proposes tax relief for landlords and builders, and higher tax credits for companies that are involved in research.
“With a Conservative majority government you can be sure we will get Brexit done and leave with the new deal that is already agreed – ending the uncertainty and confusion that has paralysed our economy,” Mr Johnson is expected to say.
‘Central motor’
Labour wants to tear up Mr Johnson’s Brexit agreement and negotiate a new deal with Brussels, including a customs union and a closer relationship with the EU single market, which it would then put to a public vote.
Jeremy Corbyn will set out Labour plans to train 80,000 people a year, as part of a “climate apprenticeship” programme, in his speech to the CBI, which is the UK’s largest business lobby group.
“Labour’s Green Industrial Revolution will be a central motor of the party’s plans to transform our country and economy, using public investment to create good, clean jobs, tackle the climate emergency and rebuild held back towns, cities and communities,” he is expected to say.
Labour’s plan would see 320,000 apprentices trained in jobs such as construction, manufacturing and design within renewable energy, transport, sustainable agriculture and forestry, all during its first term in office.
It will be funded by diverting 25% of the funds that employers already set aside through the Apprenticeship Levy and topped up by any dividends over the cap paid into Labour’s Inclusive Ownership Funds – the party’s plan to give workers a 10% stake in their employers.
The party said it also wanted to give employers more choice over how they spend Apprenticeship Levy Funds.
Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner told the BBC’s Today programme that stopping climate change was “a huge opportunity to create jobs and wealth”.
But he added that Labour was committed to “a net zero economy well before 2050”, in an apparent weakening of the party’s conference pledge to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson will tell business leaders that her party is the “natural party of business” as part of her case for the UK staying in the EU.
She will attack the other two parties’ plans to spend on big infrastructure projects, according to remarks circulated before the conference.
“Both the Conservatives and Labour will have to scramble around for projects to pour money into just to keep their word – regardless of whether they’re good projects and good use of public funds,” she will say.
‘Political paralysis’
The CBI said it wanted business rates – a tax on business premises collected by councils – to be reformed, as part of a number of recommendations it would like the parties to adopt.
It also asked for the Apprenticeship Levy to be overhauled. The tax has been unpopular with businesses since it was introduced in 2017.
The CBI also said it wanted stalled programmes such as the HS2 high-speed rail link between London and the north of England, and Heathrow’s third runway to be finished.
“We simply cannot afford another wasted year of political paralysis, indecision and distraction while productivity and investment suffer,” director general Carolyn Fairbairn is expected to say at the conference.
She told the BBC’s Today programme that big business had been left feeling ignored by politicians in recent times.
“There have been so many other issues around, in terms of sovereignty and issues that aren’t really business issues, which is why I think today is really important as we’ll have 1,500 businesses from around the country being addressed by all three political leaders,” she said.
“That says something important. It’s a moment for us to hear a lot more about business in this election.”
Business groups gave mixed reviews to the parties’ plans.
On the Conservatives’ proposals, Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, one of the UK’s oldest business lobby groups, said tax breaks to spur growth were “a sensible move”.
“However, though a thorough review into business rates would be welcome, further reliefs are also needed for the here and now.”
Reacting to Labour’s proposals, Mr Parikh said businesses wanted to tackle climate change, “but will be concerned at the prospect of further strictures being placed on the Apprenticeship Levy, which has already gummed up the UK’s skills system.
“That said, the fact that Labour has combined its proposal with the promise of wider reform suggests it is aware of the challenges and willing to work with businesses to iron out the creases.”
