Andrew Griffith, Shadow Secretary of State for Science and Technology and former FTSE100 finance director said…
“Securing investment is not about canapes and cocktails. The government must walk the walk. Threats to hike up taxes on capital gains, giving workers the right to start a job in the morning and sue their employer at an employment tribunal the same afternoon and the Chancellor trying to fiddle the definition of debt are all flashing ‘sell signals’ on the UK. We need a government that understands real wealth creators; not one which taxes with one hand and doles out subsidies with the other.”
Rachel Reeves has received a blunt wake-up call from former economic secretary Andrew Griffith and former minister for investment Dominic Johnson ahead of the Autumn Statement. They’ve slammed Labour for “talking down” the economy, which has scared off investors, with business investment plummeting from +24 in July to -6, the steepest drop since the pandemic. As they astutely put it: “no one buys shares in a company whose CEO and CFO do nothing but whine.”
Griffith and Johnson also pushed Labour to embrace the post-Brexit landscape, championing the benefits of the CPTPP and the UK’s strategic role amid the swirling uncertainties in Europe and the US. Despite Starmer’s flirtations with the EU, Labour should be “selling” the fact the UK has the power to craft its own laws and trade agreements…
The duo issues a stark warning against Labour’s tax-the-rich agenda, particularly their plans targeting non-doms, as Treasury briefings suggest such measures could end up costing the Exchequer more than they bring in. Instead, they encourage Labour to leverage its connections within the unions and public sector to champion reforms in pensions, urban development, driverless transport, and NHS data sharing. Policies the Tories weren’t able to implement…
Finally they suggest it might be time for Labour to sideline “Red Ed“. The pair point out that Labour’s green policies are pushing up energy costs for manufacturers and driving away investment. With £8 billion already pumped into GB Energy to keep him “busy”, Miliband would be better occupied with offshore wind projects instead…
Labour would be wise to heed the advice of these Tory investment supremos…
Attendees of centrist Tory think tank Onward’s under-35s series were served a bit more drama than they were expecting last night. As science minister Andrew Griffith was getting ready to talk about his brief and the “future of the science agenda” in a Westminster pub a climate protestor with an American accent sprung up and shouted about his “cosying up to the oil industry“. After about a minute of ranting the protestor was interrupted with: “We’ll do questions at the end” and was escorted out. Another then stood up to loud groans, started braying that Griffith “accepted lots of money from climate deniers”, and hit him with the killer line: “we don’t seem very scientific now do we“, before he too was ejected. Hilariously this sequence repeated itself another three times. Were there more protestors than attendees?
Eventually non-protestor attendees started singing the national anthem and the police were contacted regarding the trespassers. Guido notes Griffith has been diligently putting himself out there at youth-focussed Westminster events over the last few weeks. His fans say “Watch this space“. The field’s getting crowded…
Science Minister Andrew Griffith has blasted the BBC licence fee and warns that it’s the next Horizon scandal in the making. The BBC shelled out a whopping £136 million last year for licence fee collection, and hired over 1,000 personnel as part of the fee enforcement brigade. Perhaps investing in staff who adhere to the impartiality rules would be a better use of that money…
Now the fee has been hiked to £169.50 a year, Griffith is arguing that the current funding model cannot continue, something Guido can agree on. Griffith attacks the fact that licence fee evasion cases are prosecuted by the BBC’s TV Licensing arm, pointing to a suggestion that they should instead use the Crown Prosecution Service to avoid a Post Office-like scandal, where the “little person” is mercilessly and unjustly prosecuted. Strong and wise words…
Read the full newsletter below:
Andrew Griffith is finally ditching his handsome Grade II-listed house on Great College Street. A cosy distance from Westminster, St. James Park, and Pimlico tube stations, the Georgian property is the perfect addition to an aspirational Westminster operator’s portfolio. It’s even got views of the Houses of Parliament…
The 9-bedroom, 6-bathroom “quiet enclave” was previously used as the Boris team’s campaign HQ. Boris conducted meetings in the “imposing drawing room” and three reception rooms. That must be the “fascinating history” estate agents Dexters are referring to…
Now his Griffith’s kids are grown up the Science Minister is probably looking to downsize and spend more time in Sussex. The attached housekeeper’s apartment must add a few quid to upkeep…
The energy efficiency rating of the property isn’t brilliant at a D, though there is potential to upgrade to C. It was listed around 10 days ago. Don’t expect to get change out of £10-15 million…
Following the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ damning report that this parliament will be the most tax-raising on record, the economic secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith confirmed concerns that the tax burden won’t be relieved any time soon.
Speaking on Times Radio, he was asked if he could commit to no further tax rises . “Regretfully” he replied, “I can’t give you a commitment“. He did at least assure listeners the Conservatives are “philosophically” in favour of a strong economy and “directionally” support low taxes. ‘In theory’ and ‘in practice’ aren’t quite the same thing…
