David Cameron to ‘declare war on enemies of enterprise’
Prime Minister David Cameron will declare war on the “enemies of enterprise” in a speech to the Conservative spring conference.
In what aides are describing as a “new chapter in the economic story of this government”, the PM will set out his strategy for kick-starting growth.
He will say it is down to the ingenuity and “spark” of entrepreneurs.
Labour accused Mr Cameron of “warm words but no action” and said the UK “urgently needed” a plan for jobs.
It says the government is wrecking the UK’s chances of economic recovery by cutting public spending “too fast and too deep”.
The coalition has said there is no alternative to its plans to cut the UK’s budget deficit, but aides say Mr Cameron wants to strike a more optimistic note after spending his first 10 months in government talking about tough economic choices.
More investment
There will be no new policy announcements in the speech, but Mr Cameron will attempt to set the scene for George Osborne’s Budget on 23 March.
The chancellor has already told the Tory conference in Cardiff that his Budget will be “unashamedly pro-growth” and will include 10 new enterprise zones to boost some of the most deprived areas of England.
Mr Cameron will use his speech to reinforce this pro-growth message, and to promise a “fundamental rebalancing of our economy”, with “less debt, more saving; less borrowing, more investment; less dependence on financial services, more new industries, exports and trade”.
With interest rates at a record low, and no money to spare, the prime minister will say he wants to champion the growth and ingenuity of the British people: “The spark of initiative. The courage to make your dream happen. The hard work to see it through.”
He is expected to say: “There’s only one strategy for growth we can have now and that is rolling up our sleeves and doing everything possible to make it easier for businesses to grow, to invest, to take people on.
“Back small firms. Boost enterprise. Be on the side of everyone in this country who wants to create jobs, and wealth and opportunity.”
‘Social good’
On a practical level, the prime minister will promise to open up government procurement to more small businesses.
“I can announce today that we are taking on the enemies of enterprise,” he will say.
“The bureaucrats in government departments who concoct those ridiculous rules and regulations that make life impossible for small firms.
“The town hall officials who take forever to make those planning decisions that can be make or break for a business – and the investment and jobs that go with it.
“The public sector procurement managers who think that the answer to everything is a big contract with a big business and who shut out millions of Britain’s small and medium sized companies from a massive potential market.”
‘Reckless plan’
Mr Cameron will also say “enterprise is not just about markets – it’s about morals too”, adding: “We understand that enterprise is not just an economic good, it’s a social good.”
Labour has accused the Conservatives of lacking a strategy for growth and being more interested in grabbing headlines.
Labour’s shadow Treasury minister Kerry McCarthy said: “Britain urgently needs a plan for jobs and growth to get our economy growing strongly again and to help families facing the squeeze, but David Cameron looks set to offer warm words but no action.
“This Conservative-led government doesn’t seem to understand that their reckless plan to cut too deep and too fast has given us the worst of all worlds – a shrinking economy, rising unemployment and rising inflation.
“Without strong growth and more jobs we can’t get the deficit down, but instead of coming up with a plan B all David Cameron and George Osborne can offer is platitudes and excuses about the wrong kind of snow.”
Source: BBC
UK universities may close courses following visa cuts
Leading university vice chancellors have warned they may be forced to close some courses unless the Government drops plans to limit UK visas for foreign students.
An alliance of vice chancellors from 16 universities is urging Home Secretary Theresa May to abandon proposals to reduce immigration by restricting visas issued to foreign students and raising language requirements.
In a letter to The Observer, the vice-chancellors express their “profound concern” at the proposals.
They argue the plans would have a devastating effect on universities’ incomes and ability to run the best courses for British, as well as overseas students.
The vice-chancellors said: “International students coming to universities contribute over £5bn each year to the UK economy through tuition fees and off-campus expenditure.
“Reductions in student numbers will lead to reductions in income and jobs.
“Without international students, many university courses, particularly science and engineering courses, may no longer be viable. This will in turn reduce the courses available to UK students.
“International students bring extensive cultural and political benefits to the UK. When they return to their countries at the end of their studies, they become cultural and economic ambassadors for the UK.
“At a time of financial austerity, this issue is of immeasurable importance to the UK.”
The proposals would affect students from outside the EU applying for visas under what is known as tier four of the points-based system.
These accounted for two-thirds of the 273,000 visas issued to students in 2009.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Any criticism can only be based on speculation as no decisions have yet been made on the changes to the student visa route.
“However, universities that are confident in the product they have to offer genuine students should have nothing to fear from policies that root out abuses in the student visa system.”
Source: Sky News