Some of the property world’s leading figures have backed the Conservative Party and heavily criticised Labour, in a letter published today. Among the 134 signatures are Michael Slade and Gerald Kaye of Helical Bar and Raymond Mould of Pillar Property.
The letter, put together by Sir Clive Thompson of Rentokil and published in The Daily Telegraph, claims that the Labour Government has eroded Britain’s competitive market through excess business taxes and regulation. It continues: “We welcome the Conservatives’ commitment to cutting the overall burden of regulation year-on-year and their proposals to cut taxes.”
Michael Slade, managing director of Helical Bar, said: “We all feel that the burden of regulation and taxation has become far too heavy under Labour. It’s insane that even Europe is coming out of this socialist way of thinking while Labour is going right on in. They will create a situation where none of us will want to employ anyone, and we won’t be able to work here anymore,” he said
Helical Bar’s development director Gerald Kaye, who also signed the letter, commented: “I think that the Conservatives would run the country better than Labour. They are the right party for business and property. Stamp duty, for example, used to be at 1% under the Tories.”
The letter was used by Conservative Leader William Hague in a press conference this morning to attack Labour’s stance as “a friend of business”. He said: “Never has business had such a false friend,” he said.
EGi News 21/05/01
