I’m in Cardiff this weekend with three clear messages for the party. One: thank you for everything you’ve done. We’re in government delivering Conservative pledges – from bringing some sense to our public finances to dismantling Labour’s nanny state. This wouldn’t have happened without the constant work of activists up and down the country over this past year. So thank you.
Two: get ready because we’ve got some big elections coming up – council elections, Welsh Assembly elections, Scottish Parliament elections and of course, the AV referendum. AV is fundamentally unfair – it makes politics and politicians less accountable and it means some people’s votes can count more than others. We’ve got to get out there, take these arguments to the country and urge them to vote no to AV.
The third message is to do with our economy. In just over two weeks, we’re going to unveil the most pro-enterprise, pro-business Budget for a generation. It’s going to be a no-nonsense, roll-our-sleeves up Budget in which we do everything we can to make it easier for businesses to grow, invest and take people on.
Make no mistake, I am an enterprise Prime Minister. Every summit I go to, every trip I make, every foreign leader I meet, I’m trying to drum up new trade or business for Britain. I know some people don’t like me doing that. But do these critics think the Germans and the French and the Americans are all sitting at home waiting for business to fall on to their lap? Of course not. They’re getting out there, and so am I.
This is an enterprise government too. Everywhere we can we’re breaking down the barriers to business growth – cutting corporation tax, gripping regulation, bringing in an enterprise allowance to help those who are unemployed set up their own business. But there’s so much more to do. Right now in our country there are what I would call the enemies of enterprise, whether it’s bureaucrats who concoct ridiculous rules or town hall officials who take ages to make planning decisions. Believe me, we are taking them on.
Enterprise is in our party’s DNA. We have always been on the side of the doers, the grafters, the entrepreneurs. They are the wealth creators and the job creators, the ones who will drive Britain’s prosperity in the years to come, and that’s why this government is doing everything possible to get behind them today.
( 56 comments ) Tags: Americans, AV, French, German, Labour, Scottish Parliament, welsh assembly
Comment by john powell on March 6, 2011 at 8:04 pm
you are doing fine ,no one said it would be easy,lead the charge for a future, let new labour wallow in the past,look after your family though,dont forget them,regards johnp
Comment by Mike Reynolds on March 6, 2011 at 8:08 pm
As a businessman I can speak from experience we desperately need the regulators and bureaucrats of our backs so we can create wealth, jobs and growth. Many of these are governemtn arms length departments like the HSE, EA, NE and MMO they have no responsibility for growth just the authority to delay and thwart plans and ‘progress’. If they can’t be brought to heel by the Government then no one can. Face up to them and get them on our side.
Comment by Margaret Corinna Haward on March 6, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Dear David,
Although I warmly support your desire to cut red tape and encourage enterprise, and have been a conservative voter for many years, I am not an activist, and am deeply worried by some of the current policies – doing away with the forensic science labs, doing away with the Film Council, ….let alone the very stringent defence cuts and the truly shocking business of sending redundancy notices to men who are actually fighting on the front line.
Of course I appreciate the dire financial situation, but cannot believe that some of the decisions have been wisely thought through.
I hope for better news in due course.
Comment by Hyslop Tennant on March 6, 2011 at 9:13 pm
I am becoming increasingly disillusioned by the soft way the Banks are being treated. I want to see you listen more to the Governor of the Bank of England.
Comment by Peter Ball on March 6, 2011 at 9:16 pm
A suggestion for the budget. Double the fees that is charged by Companies House, for new company formations, and for other services, such as annual returns, and applications for striking off a company. These fees are way too cheap!
Comment by John howie on March 6, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Mr Cameron,
I switched Parties to Vote for you as i felt you could possibly Help Self Employed Business people who Like me have had no Support from the Previous Joke for a Goverment.
Its good that your Encourging People to Start there own Businesses, but what about giving more Support to those like me who are already doing it and even through a ressesion are still working all hours to survive and keep our Business’es Going thus Helping to Pay The National Debt that Labour left for us.
David, give us your full backing and Small Business’es like Mines will Back you 100%.
Comment by Ainsley Mitchell. on March 6, 2011 at 9:25 pm
This is more of the David Cameron we want to see and hear. Keep up this standard and we should expect to see the positive results you are talking about.
A.Mitchell.
Comment by Vic Gilks on March 6, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Sounds good but one of the major priorities should be to make EVERYONE in the public sector accountable and stop decisions by committe. There are still too many people in denial about the financial state of the country.
Comment by Andy Lampard on March 6, 2011 at 10:03 pm
I am not yet a member but an increasingly being attracted! I received an email with the contents of the blog and invited to comment. I’m surprised that I’m the first though!
The phrase that stood out was “Enterprise is in our party’s DNA”. It has helped me makeup my mind about which of governing parties most closely mirrors my values. A simple, yet powerful phrase. It caused me to ask…so what would the LibDems, or fir that matter New Labours DNA be? I would therefore heartily encourage to you move this phrase to centre stage. As with any organisation there will be issues that you “agree to disagree”, policies you wish to debate, or seek to influence. Too easily these can distract and we humans can so easily find ourselves in a place where we are “majoring on minors”. Turning attention to what is the DNA of the party, any party focuses the mind. Well it has mine. Thankyou.
Comment by Vishnu on March 6, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Fantastic David! Building a better future to every UK citizen is the fundamental goal . It can be achieved through motivating entrepreneurs to create more job opportunities to fellow citizens. No to AV is widely accepted by our society because they realise, it’s complicated and and expensive. Finally boosting our economy is crucial. It can be fulfilled by energizing every fellow citizen. Motivate them to be more productive, more responsible and more patriotic to the nation, they love.
Comment by Roger on March 6, 2011 at 10:47 pm
It’s so refreshing to see a government focused on the generation of wealth rather than dreaming up new ways to just spend it.
Comment by Dave Armitage on March 6, 2011 at 10:53 pm
I entirely agree with what has been said. This message must be hammered home in Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and the north east anywhere that Labour holds sway so they understand the problems were caused by their inept government.
Comment by Angela Meyler on March 6, 2011 at 11:06 pm
Great:keep up the energy and the good work.
Comment by Julie Meyer, Entrepreneur Country on March 6, 2011 at 11:18 pm
From all of us who go to Entrepreneur Country every day, we applaud the efforts of the government to support the entrepreneur – the engine of society! – http://www.entrepreneurcountry.net/manifesto
Comment by David Hughan on March 6, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Dear David,
I am in complete agreement with all that you said to make the UK profitable again.
Pity it was not said sooner.
Please keep up the good work and do not waiver.
David Hughan
Comment by R.Boufas on March 6, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Keep going you are doing the right thinks , we will back you 100%
Comment by Ian Bradford on March 7, 2011 at 12:04 am
The problem is Prime Miinister the banks are still not lending to the small business. Business is very hard at the moment ,but when I tried to increase my overdraught limit they basically said, dont bother asking.
Comment by matthew harding on March 7, 2011 at 12:12 am
Raising of tax thresholds and enterprise zones are excellent ways of promoting job creation. May I also suggest that vocational courses should be available to the unemployed to overcome quite often minor barriers to employment.
Comment by Lets Get Cracking on March 7, 2011 at 5:45 am
Can you do something about NI contributions for those working overseas and not currently paying voluntary contibutions. It would be a good Idea for George to enable those with missed years to easily pay missed contributions to bring them right back up to date and not just the last 4 years.
Comment by Aloma on March 7, 2011 at 6:11 am
Could not agree more, Something has to be done to get this country on the right track again. If we go on spending like the Labour party did and still does want t, we will have no money left to live on.
Comment by Aloma on March 7, 2011 at 6:12 am
Could not agree more with everything you are planning to do. We have to get this country back on track again.
Comment by Fiona on March 7, 2011 at 7:53 am
Agree, agree and agree. Thank you. x
Comment by Ali on March 7, 2011 at 8:03 am
While currently working loooong hours,6 days a week, for minimum wage, aged over 55 and existing to pay bills so lacking a social life – I hope to start my own business with a friend. Before we are too worn out working for somebody else
It will be interesting to see if our age group is encouraged to be entrepreneurs
Comment by Gurdeep Singh Sohal on March 7, 2011 at 8:06 am
Dear David
Enterprising ‘Prime Minister’ is what’s required for the prosperity of United Kingdom.
For this purpose there would be a Legacy for future Global Markets.
Well Done !
Warmest regards
Gurdeep Singh Sohal
Comment by Geoff Boyle on March 7, 2011 at 8:12 am
If you want to help small business then you should look at the NIC paid by self employed, it’s simply an increase in tax as class 4 has no effect on pensions etc as it would if the payee was employed.
Comment by Terry Gilbert on March 7, 2011 at 8:22 am
This is all Music to my ears as area Manager to the Enterprise Agency we have been starting new business for twenty Five years with small amounts of funding from many pots We would love to spear head your plans but some funding to “Pump Prime” would be a major help Thank you for keeping me up to date Very useful Regards Terry
Comment by Hobson Tarrant on March 7, 2011 at 8:34 am
Davids comments are admirable but small business needs more attention to the employment rules to help them move forward, the new parental rights, however well meant, are simply crippling to a small company. I am currently in Greece where workers ( outside of the public sector) simply get nothing if they don’t work. This may be contrary to European rules but simple the facts on the ground. Bringing back parental leave to the minimum not maximum is the only way to get employment growing at the bottom end.
Comment by Mrs. Anne Bush on March 7, 2011 at 9:04 am
Food is the most strategically important issue for a Government to support. Do the measures in the future Budget help to support Farming Businesses?
Comment by IAN MORRIS on March 7, 2011 at 9:07 am
I am pleased to see the Prime Minster and the Government backing entrepenuership and Enterprise in this way . However unless they tackle this issue of Lending to business’s this will be nothing more than empty rhetoric . The state controlled banks have to be made to lend to Business otherwise their stranglehold with stiffle any recovery . This needs to be dealt with before it is too late and many perfiedtl viable business’s have been forced to go out of business by the Banks desire for short term gain .
Comment by David Thompson on March 7, 2011 at 9:13 am
Don’t forget the small businesses who are commercial property landlords. To take away the empty rating concession at this time is very painful. Why should the government get full rates when the landlord is receiving no income. It would cause less strife to us if you doubled corporation tax.
Comment by Steve Heathcock on March 7, 2011 at 9:18 am
Very encouraging but I’ve just paid £1.40 for a litre of diesel – you promised to do something about this so please do it – costs have gone up by one third.
Comment by Derek Mayow on March 7, 2011 at 9:21 am
AV – the very idea is insane. I read all the manifesto’s and decide the best policy for the Country. I will cast my vote accordingly; how can I now give a second preference to a party I do not agree with?
Derek
Comment by alex on March 7, 2011 at 9:26 am
there are lots of would be entrepreneurs in the public sector.
they too are hidebound by red tape and hoping a government will remove barriers.
these include data protection, disclosure and other sensible laws that have now become overly strictly applied.
when a law is brought in, we seem to apply it in a way that throttles enterprise
Comment by john on March 7, 2011 at 9:36 am
I t seems to me that other people rather than the government are trying to dictate policy, the civil service and Europe, they want r educating
Comment by Glyn Woolley on March 7, 2011 at 9:38 am
Dear Prime Minister,
Your message is very refreshing and encouraging. We are an export company exporting 90% of our sales. We battle against bureaucrats every day – my question is who do we turn to to get our issues heard?
Thanks
Glyn Woolley
MD
Comment by Dianne Butterfield on March 7, 2011 at 9:45 am
I will be voting no. Keep the momentum going for business as it is the only way foward; espceially for the younger generaion.
Comment by Jonathan Bacon on March 7, 2011 at 9:59 am
Sounds good, please deliver.
Comment by kunle olaifa on March 7, 2011 at 10:01 am
Excelent views,we need to go further by making Big society and multiculture work. Everyone who holds a British passport should speak English .We save a lot of money on interpreting i.e police time,nhs,banks etc
Comment by Mark Calnan on March 7, 2011 at 10:04 am
I am delighted to finally hear acknowledgement that the engine for recovery will be the SME entrepreneurs. The presumption that ‘state knows best’; the onerous taxation system that changes every year; an out of touch legal system – these are all unwelcome distractions to those who have the ability to create work and power the economy.
The proof of the pudding will, as always, be in the delivery.
Comment by p carruthers on March 7, 2011 at 10:25 am
So when are we going to see cuts in red tape? When are you going to tackle the endless tribunal claims from no win no fee lawyers? Come to think of it, when are you going to reform the entire outdated system of legal representation in this country?
Comment by Brian Harvey on March 7, 2011 at 10:26 am
Good, please make it happen!
Comment by carol on March 7, 2011 at 10:28 am
thank you for the new changes that shall be taking place, I look forward to the changes that once again England shall be leading the way with forward planning and thinking.
Comment by Margaret Donaldson on March 7, 2011 at 10:53 am
I think regardless of where in the UK we live, people want to see how the wastage of public money is going to be addressed instead of harping on about cuts. We constantly read about both the MOD and the NHS paying way over the odds for equipment etc. If we tackled the waste first we many not need to cut so many frontline services. People are also fed up reading about people with excessive amounts of children all living off benefits. Why cant you say that benefits are only payable for up to three children at most for example? The stories about the welfare system are very depressing.
Comment by les boyce on March 7, 2011 at 10:59 am
If out hospitals, police forces, fire service, schools, local councils, everywhere where public money is spent, were to genuinely try to buy what is made in this country it would boost our manufacturing greatly.
Usually buyers spend our money on the cheapest product which means its imported, and does Great Britain no good what so ever.
Comment by Sandra on March 7, 2011 at 11:36 am
Behind you all the way Prime Minister. A definate NO to AV voting, it cannot work. Keep up the good work but stay out of Libya, please!
Comment by David Backhouse on March 7, 2011 at 11:53 am
In my case you are preaching to the converted, however, why are we only being given one alternative vote choice when there are others. However first past the post is the best choice. All governments talk about cutting red tape but never achieve it – the jury is out until you can show that you have delivered.
Comment by Steve Radford on March 7, 2011 at 12:03 pm
you should also consider scrapping the Agency Worker Directive (AWD) !
Comment by Susan North on March 7, 2011 at 12:20 pm
I see that David Cameron says he is on the side of the doers,the grafters and the entrepreneurs. Previously if you spent your money on a private pension and used drawdown if any money was left when you died it was taxed at 35%, I now hear that from April any money left will be taxed at 55% so how is that any incentive to put your money into a private pension if you are a doer or a grafter?
Comment by RF Cartwright on March 7, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Hope that the Enterprise initiative does not include an increase in fuel – so that small businesses can survive.
Comment by RF Cartwright on March 7, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Hope the Enterprise initiative does not include an increase in fuel tax – so that small businesses can survive
Comment by Paul Newell on March 7, 2011 at 12:28 pm
The Prime Minister writes about bureaucrats concocting ridiculous rules; he may not be personally responsible for the present entanglement of rules, but all politicians have to remind themselves that most ridiculous rules are concocted by politicians, and simply implemented by officials: be aware that your decisions have long-lasting implications for the rest of us.
Comment by Riadh Al Rabeh on March 7, 2011 at 12:31 pm
- I strongly support the idea of removing barriers to business and enterprising. I also suggest taking openions and ideas from everyone on what barriers are in the way and need to be removed.
- The openness and the big society ideas are great and should be persued hard . Knowing what you have and having the control to change it is an assurance for stability and progress.
Comment by Adrian Oldfield on March 7, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Two things. Keep up the fight against AV! Secondly, it has taken you too long to champion SMEs my company is growing organically (no bank support), which is making us stronger. We are recruiting slowly but surely. Its hard for us to take risks when we see shocking examples of publicly wasted money, but we are resilient and we will come through!
Comment by keith white on March 7, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I am so so pleased to hear of enterprise initiatives. After many years running significant businesses I am trying to go it alone and have been seeking start up support through the EFG scheme. My concern is that whilst the Prime Ministers intentions are genuine the benefits don’t get delivered as perhaps intended. This would certainly be my experience in dealing with the banks and I would welcome the opportunity to advise on this – drop me a line please
Comment by Allen Handy on March 7, 2011 at 1:24 pm
I am so pleased that we have a party that has common sense which is prepared to put the backbone back into our country. We shall win ! The nanny state is banished – thank you for having the courage to do the right things to sort out the mess that was left by the Labour lot. All strength to your arm – go for it and take no notice of the detractors.
Comment by Max Lipman on March 7, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Please explain to the halwits who do not understand that a billion not saved now will cost 2 billion to repay a few years down the line