This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6942722.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tory plan for business 'tax cut' Tory plan for red tape 'tax cut'
(about 6 hours later)
Tory leader David Cameron is looking at radical plans to cut £14bn in red tape and regulation for UK businesses. Tory leader David Cameron is looking at plans to cut £14bn in red tape and regulation for UK businesses.
The plans, described as "a tax cut by any other name", have been put forward by John Redwood, one of the most senior figures on the Tory right. The plans have been put forward by John Redwood - one of the most senior figures on the Tory right - who called them "a tax cut by any other name".
The focus is on easing regulation, such as data protection laws and health and safety regimes. The focus is on easing regulation such as data protection laws, rules on hours, and health and safety regimes.
Labour claim the proposals are evidence the party is lurching back to the right in the face of disappointing polls. Labour claims the proposals show the party is lurching back to the right in the face of disappointing polls.
Mr Redwood told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper: "This would be the biggest attempt at tackling deregulation ever made by a British government. 'Creative and enterprising'
"British business would get a saving of £14bn a year, which would be a tax cut by any other name." Mr Redwood told the BBC's Sunday programme the proposals were aimed at improving Britain's "ability to compete".
'Meal in itself' He said there had been previous successes in deregulation, such as opening up the telecommunications market.
"We need to extend that experience much more widely across the economy and show that getting rid of unnecessary rules and regulations is creative, is enterprising and extremely helpful to those who need some help in life."
He said businesses which did not have to spend money on such regulations could instead invest the cash.
The report will call for the repeal of working time regulations and many rules affecting the financial services industry.The report will call for the repeal of working time regulations and many rules affecting the financial services industry.
Other proposed measures include scrapping controversial Home Information Packs (Hips) and relaxing the regulations on herbal remedies, charity bingo and raffles.Other proposed measures include scrapping controversial Home Information Packs (Hips) and relaxing the regulations on herbal remedies, charity bingo and raffles.
The policy package of sweeping cuts has been drawn up by a policy review group, set up by Mr Cameron and headed by Mr Redwood. The policy package has been drawn up by a policy review group, set up by Mr Cameron and headed by Mr Redwood.
Mr Redwood has described the report, due to be released on Friday, as "not the grit in the oyster but a meal in itself".
Cameron is letting the old guard sing the old tunes again Cabinet minister Andy BurnhamCameron is letting the old guard sing the old tunes again Cabinet minister Andy Burnham
Mr Cameron, who has refused to bow to internal pressure to promise upfront tax cuts, was reported to be fully backing the plans.Mr Cameron, who has refused to bow to internal pressure to promise upfront tax cuts, was reported to be fully backing the plans.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne worked on the proposals with Mr Redwood but a party spokesman said he was only advising him on how to write and present the report. Shadow chancellor George Osborne worked on the proposals with Mr Redwood, but a party spokesman said he was only advising him on how to write and present the report.
The spokesman also told the BBC that the proposals are not party policy and they would need to pass through "many hoops" before being adopted. The spokesman also told the BBC the proposals were not party policy and they would need to pass through "many hoops" before being adopted.
The BBC's political correspondent Guto Harri said Labour had seized on the proposals as evidence the right wing Tory old guard were confidently pushing their agenda once again. Mr Redwood told the BBC: "I'm absolutely sure the Conservative government wants an enterprising Britain, and will recognise that means fewer rules and regulations - and fewer rules and regulations that achieve the opposite of what they set out to achieve."
Labour poll lead
Labour has seized on the proposals as evidence the right wing of the Tory "old guard" is confidently pushing its agenda again.
Cabinet minister Andy Burnham said it was a sure sign of Mr Cameron's "loss of grip and authority".Cabinet minister Andy Burnham said it was a sure sign of Mr Cameron's "loss of grip and authority".
"And to shore up his position with the right wing, Cameron is letting the old guard sing the old tunes again," he said."And to shore up his position with the right wing, Cameron is letting the old guard sing the old tunes again," he said.
"But this directly undermines the spending pledges Cameron has been making. He is losing control and all his PR stunts to suggest change are being exposed as nothing more than that, empty stunts.""But this directly undermines the spending pledges Cameron has been making. He is losing control and all his PR stunts to suggest change are being exposed as nothing more than that, empty stunts."
The Tory proposal comes amid a poll suggesting Labour has moved to 10 points ahead of the Conservatives since Gordon Brown took over as prime minister.
The poll for YouGov put Labour on 42% - two points ahead of a month ago - with the Conservatives down one on 32% and the Liberal Democrats on 14%.