Alan Sugar - your fired

Despite enjoying The Apprentice, I have never understood why Gordon Brown appointed Alan Sugar to spearhead the Government's task force for business. Only last week, Mr Sugar thought it apt to lay in to struggling small businesses stating:

"I can honestly say a lot of problems you hear from people who are moaning are from companies I wouldn't lend a penny to. They are bust. The moaners are bust. They are bust and they don't need the bank - they need an insolvency practitioner." (Daily Mail, 4 November 2009)

The arrogance of this comment is breathtaking, particularly, when many small businesses are struggling to keep to keep afloat - because of Gordon Brown's mishandling of the economy.

I am sometimes asked, so what would Conservatives do differently to help small businesses in this difficult climate. I thought it might be useful to set out Tory policies below (incidentally, the Conservative Spokesman for small businesses is Mark Prisk (neighbouring MP for Hertford and Stortford):

Conservative action for small business

Simpler, fairer taxes

We will reverse Labour's planned increase in small company corporation tax, from 22p in the coming year back to 20p.

We will simplify the tax system, to reduce complexity for small businesses.

Securing finance

We believe Labour's loan guarantee schemes are too complex, narrow and bureaucratic. We believe that, during the recession, there should be a single national loan guarantee scheme, to guarantee billions of pounds of loans for all business sectors and for viable firms whatever their size.

Cutting the burden of regulation

We will create a one in-one out requirement where any new regulation must include cuts in old laws which, together, produce a net 5% reduction in the total regulatory burden.

We will apply a 'sunset clause' to all regulators. During the first term of a Conservative Government all regulators will be re-assessed and their duties, size and functions reviewed. Our aim is fewer, smaller and cheaper regulators.

Many small businesses complain of unfair treatment in employment and discrimination tribunals. We will consult carefully on reforming these tribunals so that the system is fair to all sides.

The powers of government inspectors will be curbed, by letting businesses arrange their own, externally audited inspections and, providing they pass, to refuse entry to official inspectors thereafter.

Helping people start and grow new businesses

We will introduce a Work for Yourself programme to help people become self employed. Working with proven specialist organisations like the Prince's Trust and the Bright Ideas Trust we will enable the building of a network of business mentors and appropriate business support and loans to help the next generation of entrepreneurs.

These policies at least give some impetus to business and are far removed from Alan Sugar's approach of harsh criticism. There is a big difference between a reality TV programme and the real business world.

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