Rossendale Businesses come together to fight NI

Date published: 10 April 2010

SIR – Between us we run some of Rossendale and Darwen’s leading companies and employ many people in this area. We are responsible for ensuring that our businesses and our employees come through the recession in good shape.

The Government’s proposal to increase national insurance, placing an additional tax on jobs, comes at exactly the wrong time in the economic cycle. In a personal capacity, we welcome the Conservative Party’s plan to stop the proposed increase in national insurance by cutting Government waste. In the last two years, businesses across this area have cut their costs without undermining the service they provide to their customers. It is time for the Government to do the same.

Few would argue that the state cannot improve. In the last few years, the private sector has improved its productivity by around 20 per cent, while productivity in the public sector has fallen by three per cent. Savings can be made by removing the blizzard of irrelevant objectives, restrictive working practices, arcane procurement rules and Whitehall interference. The Conservative Party’s announcement marks the beginning of this debate. As taxpayers we would welcome more efficiency in government.
As businessmen we know that stopping the national insurance rise will protect jobs and support the recovery here in Rossendale and Darwen.

Cutting government waste won’t endanger the recovery – but putting up national insurance will.

Stephen Greenalgh JJO Plc
Clive Nuttall Domus Furnishing
Stephen Williams Red Water Homes
Gary Mayer Wegoma Plc
Chris Thew Orbital Design
Ian Dearden Walsh & Dearden Haulage
Jon Bowden Fast Trak Consulting Ltd
Darryl Smith AUK Limited
Tony Winder Anthony and Patricia’s
Tony Swain Patricia’s Floral Fair
David Gee D&D Gee Fruit