National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill

Debate between Mark Ferguson and Richard Fuller

2nd reading
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Richard Fuller]

Obviously it would be useful to have people with business experience in the Cabinet, if they are going to levy taxes on business. Sadly, the Government do not have that. My hon. Friend’s point about business confidence and the reaction from businesses goes to what the Minister was trying to say in his summing up about what the Conservative party would do. The way we raise more taxes is by enhancing business confidence, so that they invest, grow and make profits that can be taxed. This Budget has done precisely the opposite. Each and every day since the Budget, confidence in the financial competence of this Labour Government has been ebbing away. Less than one in four of the public now believe that this Government are handling the economy well.

[Mark Ferguson (Gateshead Central and Whickham) (Lab)]

The hon. Gentleman appears keen on polling. Can he talk us through the polling for Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s Budget?