Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Business pledge by Sir Keir on visit to West
ENTREPRENEURS in Swindon want to be able to grow their business and be ambitious, said Labour leader Keir Starmer.
And he promised that any future Labour government under his leadership would match that ambition and not stifle it.
On the day after a much-anticipated budget by the Conservative government, Sir Keir, with the shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was meeting women entrepreneurs at an event at The Carriage Works, the renovated GWR building that hosts small and innovative businesses.
The senior MPs spent about 45 minutes chatting with the businesswomen.
Hannah Webb, who runs Little Grazey and who had provided the catering for the event, and Chloe Hayworth whose company Chloe’s Catering is based in Highworth, were two who spoke to the labour leader.
Hannah said: “We didn’t have much scope to ask questions, but he was very interested in our businesses, and he asked a lot of questions about what we did, and what were the challenges for us. He was interested in what we are doing.”
Chloe added: “He genuinely seemed to want to hear what we thought.”
Another of the women who spoke to Sir Keir, Ieva Delininkaityte, who runs her own talent agency and also is involved in marketing, said: “I was impressed he made the time to come and see us. I think it might make a difference, maybe not huge, and not immediately, but it will influence what he does if he gets into government.”
Samantha Brassington, who has just opened a massage and yoga salon Zenden UK in Old Town, said: “He was really interested in each person and spoke to everyone individually to understand what their issues are, not just looking at us as entrepreneurs. For someone like Chloe it’s the price of butter going up that that matters; for me, I have to put the price of a massage up, and that means fewer customers might come along.”
After his conversations with the businesswomen, Sir Keir said: “I think most people in Swindon would say the Conservatives have managed to crash the economy.”
Referencing his party’s plan to end non-domiciled status which means those who say their permanent home is not in the UK pay no tax on their earnings here, he said: “If you ask the people of Swindon whether they should pay more taxes or whether the super-rich non-doms should pay any tax at all, I think you’d get a pretty blunt answer.”
When he learned Sir Keir Starmer was coming to the Carriage Works, owned by Swindon Borough Council, the Conservative leader of the authority David Renard took it as the Labour leader’s endorsement of both his administration and the current government’s investment.
He said: “”The Conservative Council is delighted that Sir Keir has recognised the huge benefits that are being delivered to our businesses by the regeneration of the Carriage Works which is a result of the council’s foresight and the millions of pounds of government investment.
“By both preserving Swindon’s heritage and providing a base for small, start-up and hi-tech businesses, the council, working with The Foundry, is able provide the support that these new businesses need as they grow. It is a brilliant example of what can be achieved, and we thank Sir Keir for acknowledging this and promoting our great work.”