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Labour dismisses row about campaign ad featuring business leaders' quotes Labour dismisses row about campaign ad featuring business leaders' quotes
(about 2 hours later)
Labour has dismissed a row about the use of business leaders’ names in a party advert as “a storm in a tea cup”, as Ed Miliband launched an attempt to woo the corporate world in the runup to the general election.Labour has dismissed a row about the use of business leaders’ names in a party advert as “a storm in a tea cup”, as Ed Miliband launched an attempt to woo the corporate world in the runup to the general election.
Unveiling his party’s business manifesto on Monday, the Labour leader said Conservative plans to hold a referendum on Britain’s EU membership were “a clear and present danger” to UK jobs and prosperity. But his speech, which also included promises to set up an infrastructure commission and freeze business rates for small firms, threatened to be overshadowed by a row about campaign material.Unveiling his party’s business manifesto on Monday, the Labour leader said Conservative plans to hold a referendum on Britain’s EU membership were “a clear and present danger” to UK jobs and prosperity. But his speech, which also included promises to set up an infrastructure commission and freeze business rates for small firms, threatened to be overshadowed by a row about campaign material.
Related: Cameron's warning on Labour's £3,000 'tax rise' is shot down by IFS
Labour took out an advert in Monday’s Financial Times featuring quotes from six business leaders warning about a UK exit from the EU.Labour took out an advert in Monday’s Financial Times featuring quotes from six business leaders warning about a UK exit from the EU.
One of them, Siemens UK boss Juergen Maier, was “fed up” about being included, according to a source. On Monday the engineering conglomerate sought to distance itself from the Labour party message.One of them, Siemens UK boss Juergen Maier, was “fed up” about being included, according to a source. On Monday the engineering conglomerate sought to distance itself from the Labour party message.
A Siemens spokeswoman said: “The quote attributed to Juergen Maier is already a matter of public record and we are very supportive of Britain remaining in a reformed EU. However, it is not to be seen as support for any political party.A Siemens spokeswoman said: “The quote attributed to Juergen Maier is already a matter of public record and we are very supportive of Britain remaining in a reformed EU. However, it is not to be seen as support for any political party.
“Siemens is an apolitical organisation. We were consulted about Juergen’s quote but not as part of a specific Labour party campaign as the advertisement could imply.”“Siemens is an apolitical organisation. We were consulted about Juergen’s quote but not as part of a specific Labour party campaign as the advertisement could imply.”
One pro-European business source said: “Siemens and others have made a point about their business and what would happen if we were to leave the EU and if that gets turned into a political point it makes it harder for businesses in future to comment.”One pro-European business source said: “Siemens and others have made a point about their business and what would happen if we were to leave the EU and if that gets turned into a political point it makes it harder for businesses in future to comment.”
Labour said Maier had been spoken to twice before publication and had been “content for his quote to be used”.Labour said Maier had been spoken to twice before publication and had been “content for his quote to be used”.
But another business leader named in the ad came out on Monday to say she was happy for her comments to be used.But another business leader named in the ad came out on Monday to say she was happy for her comments to be used.
SCM Direct founding partner Gina Miller said: “I’m clearly aware of it because they told me it was happening last week. I said it in a roundtable and they contacted me last week and asked me whether they could use the quote.SCM Direct founding partner Gina Miller said: “I’m clearly aware of it because they told me it was happening last week. I said it in a roundtable and they contacted me last week and asked me whether they could use the quote.
“They emailed it to me first and I was happy for them to use it.”“They emailed it to me first and I was happy for them to use it.”
The shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, defended the ad, saying the subsequent row was a “storm in a tea cup”.The shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, defended the ad, saying the subsequent row was a “storm in a tea cup”.
He added: “We spoke to all the businesses who were quoted in the advertisement and all we have done is cite what they have said publicly.”He added: “We spoke to all the businesses who were quoted in the advertisement and all we have done is cite what they have said publicly.”
Labour’s 22-page manifesto, entitled A Better Plan for Business, is an attempt to show that the party understands the corporate world, after the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, was mocked last month when he was unable to name any business leaders that supported Labour apart from “Bill somebody”.Labour’s 22-page manifesto, entitled A Better Plan for Business, is an attempt to show that the party understands the corporate world, after the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, was mocked last month when he was unable to name any business leaders that supported Labour apart from “Bill somebody”.
Bill somebody turned out to be Bill Thomas, former senior vice-president of Hewlett Packard Europe, who chaired Labour’s small business taskforce. He is one of “20 experienced voices from across the business community, experts and entrepreneurs” named in Labour’s manifesto. The others include former Labour minister Lord Adonis and the founder of Lovefilm, Simon Franks.Bill somebody turned out to be Bill Thomas, former senior vice-president of Hewlett Packard Europe, who chaired Labour’s small business taskforce. He is one of “20 experienced voices from across the business community, experts and entrepreneurs” named in Labour’s manifesto. The others include former Labour minister Lord Adonis and the founder of Lovefilm, Simon Franks.
William Sargent, co-founder of film special effects company Framestore, said he was encouraged by Miliband’s focus on Europe, while adding that the Labour leader needed to show greater recognition of business’s contribution.William Sargent, co-founder of film special effects company Framestore, said he was encouraged by Miliband’s focus on Europe, while adding that the Labour leader needed to show greater recognition of business’s contribution.
Sargent, who chaired the Better Regulation Executive under the last Labour government, had previously said he thought Miliband had “a natural suspicion of business and its motives”.Sargent, who chaired the Better Regulation Executive under the last Labour government, had previously said he thought Miliband had “a natural suspicion of business and its motives”.
Speaking after the Labour leader’s latest speech, he said it showed “the beginning of an understanding of what business is concerned about”. But he added he would like to see more recognition of the contribution that business makes.Speaking after the Labour leader’s latest speech, he said it showed “the beginning of an understanding of what business is concerned about”. But he added he would like to see more recognition of the contribution that business makes.
“The thing I am encouraged about is Europe,” he told the Guardian. “I think the fact that he has been unambiguous [in support of UK membership] is half of what he needs to do.”“The thing I am encouraged about is Europe,” he told the Guardian. “I think the fact that he has been unambiguous [in support of UK membership] is half of what he needs to do.”
“It is nice to have some commitment on Europe because we are at a critically weak moment in terms of our influence in Europe and that is a bad thing.”“It is nice to have some commitment on Europe because we are at a critically weak moment in terms of our influence in Europe and that is a bad thing.”
But Simon Walker, the head of the Institute of Directors, warned that Labour’s policy on Europe “may not be the trump card Miliband supposes it is”.But Simon Walker, the head of the Institute of Directors, warned that Labour’s policy on Europe “may not be the trump card Miliband supposes it is”.
He said: “There are plenty of other important issues that will be in the minds of businesses in the runup to the election. Labour must make sure that warm words are backed up by practical policies.”He said: “There are plenty of other important issues that will be in the minds of businesses in the runup to the election. Labour must make sure that warm words are backed up by practical policies.”
John Longworth, the director-general at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the Labour manifesto had sound policies on long-term investment, access to finance, infrastructure and training.John Longworth, the director-general at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the Labour manifesto had sound policies on long-term investment, access to finance, infrastructure and training.
“At the same time, some of the tax and regulatory plans proposed by Labour need a rethink – to ensure these do not negatively affect enterprise and entrepreneurial aspiration,” he said.“At the same time, some of the tax and regulatory plans proposed by Labour need a rethink – to ensure these do not negatively affect enterprise and entrepreneurial aspiration,” he said.
Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of advertising company WPP, said companies faced a difficult choice between the “pro-business” Conservative party, which wants an EU referendum, and Labour, which he said had “taken a negative attitude to business”.Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of advertising company WPP, said companies faced a difficult choice between the “pro-business” Conservative party, which wants an EU referendum, and Labour, which he said had “taken a negative attitude to business”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, Sorrell said a referendum would create uncertainty, “an enemy of … making investments”.Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, Sorrell said a referendum would create uncertainty, “an enemy of … making investments”.
An ally of David Cameron, Sorrell added: “Ed Miliband had a chance to engage with business before the campaign started and failed to do that and I think he is trying to make up for lost time.”An ally of David Cameron, Sorrell added: “Ed Miliband had a chance to engage with business before the campaign started and failed to do that and I think he is trying to make up for lost time.”