As someone who had a career in business before entering politics, Nigel knows what it is like to start and grow a successful company from scratch; to create jobs and provide opportunity. However, Nigel experienced the pain of being made redundant and understands the impact that this can have on an individual and their family.
A word from Nigel:
"I know that it is business owners, entrepreneurs and the UK’s free market economy that have given Britain one of the world’s highest standards of living. However, the recent downturn along with the record deficit we inherited, presented huge challenges for our economy and forced the new administration into taking some incredibly difficult public spending decisions. Labour’s reckless spending has burdened us and future generations with record debt and we are now working to spend taxpayers’ money more wisely, pay down our deficit, and put Britain on an economic path to encourage private businesses to innovate and invest for the future.
My main pledge at the last election was to do whatever I can to help people into work and off benefits and to encourage businesses to locate in this constituency. Inexplicably, between 1997 and 2010, the number of people in the Selby constituency claiming out of work benefits increased despite the UK witnessing an economic surge. What is encouraging is to now see that unemployment in Selby and Ainsty has fallen by 35% since the last election. A contributor to this success have been the regular Jobs Fairs that I have organised since being elected, these Jobs Fairs match jobseekers with companies looking for staff and also provide crucial jobseeking tips and coaching. Speaking to successful jobseekers after one of my Jobs fairs is one of the most rewarding things I have done.
Thankfully, this Government’s economic plan appears to be working as since 2010, By backing small businesses and enterprise, we have helped create over 1.5 million new jobs - that's more people taking home a pay packet each month and being able to provide for their families. Britain’s economy now has more people in work than ever before. Three new private sector jobs have been created for every one lost in the public sector.
The key to growing the economy and creating jobs is to create a climate in which businesses are comfortable taking risks. Private job creation is the key to economic prosperity and we must encourage, not penalise, private companies to take risks and grow the economy."
The Conservatives are helping create jobs so hardworking people can get on in life.
We are on the side of small businesses, and are helping them however we can:
- Cutting the jobs tax - saving businesses up to £2,000 and enabling them to provide more jobs for hardworking people
- Scrapping the jobs tax altogether for under 21s - so it's easier for businesses to give young people a start in life
- Investing in better infrastructure, including roads, rail and broadband - so it's easier to reach customers
- Cutting corporation tax - helping companies invest and grow
- Government should be on the side of business and not on it’s back - We should ensure that the Government itself or burdensome regulation isn’t the chief obstacle to growth and job creation. The Government’s policies should continue recognise how private businesses invest, create jobs, and spur economic growth. We must also continue to cut red tape, exempt smaller companies from regulation . To date, 3,500 regulations have been identified for reform, 650 changes implemented to date, saving businesses over £215 million per year, with many further savings not yet quantified. There should also be a complete moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro-businesses.
Same Old Labour
We've come a long way from Labour's policies of higher taxes and more regulations, which cost business owners billions of pounds. Labour's plans for more taxes will hit businesses all over again and put thousands of jobs at risk.
Only the Conservatives have a plan to help small businesses and enterprise and create jobs.