As the ‘Heir to Blair’ it comes as no surprise that David Cameron wraps himself in pathetic soundbite politics. Like Blair, Cameron is also fundamentally dishonest. Today we are provided with another of those ‘Oh piss off’ moments.
We learn that Cameron’s speech to the What’s-left-of-the-Conservative-Party Spring Forum will see him vowing to fight the “enemies of enterprise”. It appears that:
The Prime Minister will tell the Conservatives’ spring forum he wants to make it easier for people to start their own business and will get rid of some of the rules and regulations that stand in the way.
Get rid of rules and regulations eh? What, the ones that are dreamed up in Brussels and made law here? You know, laws and regulations that before the election Cameron promised to repatriate from the EU, then after the election his government added to by rubber stamping a raft of EU measures and opting in to others. My bullshit-o-meter is already red lining. Apparently:
Among his proposals is a plan to encourage government departments to award more contracts to small and medium-sized firms.
He will accuse Labour of smothering the life out of business and say he has an “almighty job to do” fighting against bureaucrats and their “ridiculous rules” and town hall officials who “take forever” making planning decisions.
Labour did what the Conservatives are doing, bowing before the altar of the EU to impose every wheeze the bureaucrats can come up with as quickly as possible.
As any small or medium size businessman will tell you, just try being considered for a government contract. Just put yourself forward for the assault course of jumping through hoops, agreeing to abide by irrelevant compliance commitments on things such as diversity and sustainability, and having every aspect of your activity pored over by faceless officials who will determine if you are worthy enough to participate in such state generosity. While trying to satisfy all these pre-requisities, how do they have time to run their business?
To cap off his stupidity, Cameron will say:
“There is no shortage of enterprise in this country,” he will tell delegates in Cardiff.
“I see it in the ideas and energy of all the entrepreneurs I meet – British people selling curries to India and fashion to France.
“The enterprise culture is alive and well. Now, we just need an enterprise government to go with it,” he will add.
The entrepreneurs who are doing this have done it despite the government, not because of it. Government has made it harder for them, not easier. What they need is government to stop meddling and stay out of their business. What Cameron is proposing is more government activity, rather than less. You cannot have more government activity without more bureaucracy – and you cannot have more bureacuracy without ever increasing regulation, monitoring and intrusion.
If Cameron wants to fight the ‘enemies of enterprise’ he can start by punching himself in the mouth. If nothing else it might give us some respite from him for a while.
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