Rachel Reeves says Labour ‘natural party of business’ as she sets out economic plan
Labour is the “natural party of British business” and that includes paying bosses large salaries, the party’s shadow chancellor has said.
In her first major speech of the election campaign, Rachel Reeves sought to persuade voters Labour are now pro-business and pro-workers.
She also said they would bring the UK closer to the European Union, something the party has previously announced, and “bring investment back to Britain”.
Ms Reeves mentioned an open letter sent last night by 120 business leaders backing Labour as evidence the party has changed.
“Today I want to put forward a simple proposition that this changed Labour Party is today the natural party of British business,” she said at Rolls Royce’s factory in Derby.
“The choice before the British people on the 4th of July – five more years of chaos with the Conservative Party leaving working people worse off, or stability with a changed Labour Party.”
Ms Reeves said the Labour Party wants to be a government that is “pro-worker and pro-business in the knowledge that each depends upon the success of the other”.
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Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said Labour is a changed party. Pic: PA
“I’m not one of those politicians that thinks that the private sector is a dirty word or a necessary evil,” Ms Reeves said.
“I worked in the private sector. Before entering politics, I was in financial services in West Yorkshire.
“I know what a successful business can do for places like those. And I know that economic growth comes from success of business – large, medium and small.”
She said she was not a socialist but a social democrat and is relaxed about company bosses becoming very rich.
“I want businesses to be successful, and that includes paying people at the top properly for the work that they’re doing,” she said.
“But I’m also committed to turning the minimum wage into a real living wage so that ordinary working people also benefit when the economy grows and is successful.”
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The shadow chancellor said Labour would “forge a closer relationship with our nearest neighbours in the European Union to ease the burden of bureaucracy and red tape on British businesses”.
That includes a new veterinary agreement, an agreement on musician touring visas and the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
She also said Labour would bring investors to the UK “to bring growth back to Britain, to bring hope back to Britain… to deliver a better future for working people”.
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Ms Reeves said Labour’s plan to overhaul workers’ rights, named the “New Deal for Workers”, would give people the “security that should come from working hard… that doesn’t exist today”.
Labour announced the policy a few weeks ago, ahead of the election being called, and it promises to “work with employers and workers, launch a “new partnership with business and trade unions” and “consult fully with businesses, workers and civil society”.
However, the party was accused of “watering down” the deal by union Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham, who claimed the rebranded version of the plans had “more holes in it than Swiss cheese”.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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