Can ministers convince business that, after a decade in power, Labour can be the answer to - rather than the cause of - many of employers’ main grievances? The question came to the fore this week when John Hutton, the business secretary, kickstarted a review of small business policy by inviting 20 entrepreneurs to a shindig at Number 11. The government says it plans to hold a series of meetings over the next few months, before setting out a proposed new "framework for entreprise" next year.

The Tories believe this tacit admission that existing policies for smaller firms need to be rethought is a valuable weapon to beat ministers with. Alan Duncan, the shadow business secretary, responded to the Downing Street summit by accusing Labour of having "undermined the UK’s economic success" through high taxes and regulation.

A slam dunk for the opposition? Not necessarily. As Mr Hutton told the FT the Tory attack on the regulatory front has been blunted by the party’s floating of a string of policies - including new employment and environmental laws - that would impose new red tape on business. Mixed messages from David Cameron on his stance on business caused the CBI this summer to wonder aloud whether the opposition leader was a chameleon. The battle for the corporate vote is far from over.

September 20th, 2007 in The business vote | Permalink