Labour's Business Record: Complex, Interfering And Over Regulating

12.15.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Apr 2005

Responding to the launch of Labour's business manifesto, Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Malcolm Bruce, said:

"Gordon Brown describes a situation of domestic bliss with high employment and steady growth.

"Yet under a Labour Government we have seen nearly a million manufacturing jobs lost, UK competitiveness declining and lower self-employment rates.

"This has happened in spite of all the interference and micro-management of the DTI. Businesses know their customers and understand their markets. They don't need civil servants meddling.

"Small and medium-sized businesses are the engines of the economy yet currently they are being over-burdened by regulation. Liberal Democrats will only subject them to regulation where the benefits clearly outweigh the costs, as measured by the administrative burden they impose.

"Liberal Democrats will streamline the inspection regime businesses face and simplify the tax system businesses struggle with.

"Liberal Democrats are instinctively a pro-business party. We believe the people who work in this country can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world and deliver the prosperity this country depends on. We will set them free to do that.

"The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative for business."