Weekly Key Messages

Chancellor Sets Out Progress But Recognises Challenge

The Chancellor used her speech at the Labour Party Conference on Monday to reiterate that the government is facing difficult choices in November’s Budget. She pledged to keep “taxes, inflation and interest rates as low as possible”.

Our Director General Shevaun Haviland was in the front row for the speech, and afterwards she told the media:

“The Chancellor was right to highlight the progress made on infrastructure, overseas investment and trade in recent months. These are key foundations for future economic growth, and we urge the government to go further and faster. 

“Firms recognise the clear message that fiscal responsibility is important, but they are still hurting. The impact of the national insurance rise continues to be felt. It has hit confidence, investment and recruitment.  

“That’s why our message to the Chancellor is this: ‘if you want to see growth, there can be no more taxes on business’. She must use the tax system to incentivise investment and growth. To boost business confidence, the Budget must deliver on skills, lower trade barriers to grow exports and go further on infrastructure.” 

She also spoke to Bloomberg, BBC News and Sky News – watch a clip here.

Click here to read our full press release.

BCC Reacts to Prime Minister’s Conference Speech

The Prime Minister spoke to the Labour Party conference on Tuesday, and once again our Director General, Shevaun Haviland, was in the hall for the speech. Afterwards she told journalists:

“The Prime Minister rightly recognised that so much comes down to growth and that this can only be delivered from the bottom up - by businesses across the UK.  

“The plans to boost apprenticeships and technical college education provision have the potential to help tackle the skills crisis in our economy. Businesses will be keen to see more detail about how this will be delivered without extra funding. 

“However, the Prime Minister’s warning that decisions ahead are ‘not cost-free' will worry businesses, still struggling with the impact of tax rises announced in last year’s Budget.  

“Sir Keir reiterated what he first told the BCC’s Global Annual Conference in June, that the government had ‘asked a lot’ of firms in the past year. That’s why our message ahead of the Budget is clear – there can be no more taxes on business.  

“We need the Budget to go further on the skills shortage, help businesses export and continue to deliver on investment. 

“These are challenging economic times. But it is only by reducing the cost of doing business, and giving firms the tools to succeed, that we can get the sustained growth we all want to see.” 

Click here to read the full press release. 

Budget Must Give UK Competitive Edge

The Autumn Budget must sharpen the UK's competitive edge to stay ahead of the pack in an increasingly dog eat dog world.  That was the key message from the publication of our Competitiveness Report on Thursday.

The report calls for immediate action to cut the costs deterring investment, simplify regulations to unleash business and update its strategic offer. 

Among the recommendations, the BCC is calling for ministers to:

- Commit to no further increase in taxes that add to labour costs. 

- Axe the windfall tax on oil and gas to address energy costs for business and provide a clear strategy for the North Sea’s transition to a renewable future. 

- Prioritise further infrastructure investment to support growth, including the new runways at Heathrow and Gatwick, and expansion of Luton airport. 

- Put rocket boosters under our economic diplomacy to unlock the full potential of ‘Brand Britain’. 

 Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:     

  “If the UK economy is not competitive then it cannot grow. Our slide down the rankings has been driven by increasing volatility on tax and regulation which has led to an inexorable rise in the cost of doing business. 

“There is also growing speculation about what’s coming in the Autumn Budget, which is still weeks away.  This is eroding business confidence further as the government’s messaging of ‘tough choices’ adds to the fear. 

“But the Budget can be the decisive moment we need to back British business and put the economy on the front foot.”

Click here to read our full press release.