Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Export champion quits over ‘anti-business’ stance, claiming Starmer and Reeves ‘talk down the UK’

by February 3, 2025
February 3, 2025
Export champion quits over ‘anti-business’ stance, claiming Starmer and Reeves ‘talk down the UK’

Mark Stewart, chief executive of Gloucester-based Stewart Golf, has resigned from his role as one of the government’s “export champions,” citing frustration with what he calls Labour’s “anti-business policies” under Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.

Stewart’s company, which manufactures electric golf buggies, exports half of its £7 million turnover to the United States.

His departure comes after the speech from the chancellor on Wednesday, where announcements on airport expansions, updated regulations, and investment in technology clusters were made  to bolster the UK’s growth prospects.

Having just returned from a trip to America, Stewart, 45, says the contrast in attitudes to business could not be starker. “I can’t be part of this,” he told The Times. “Every turn, there’s something that makes life more difficult for people trying to run small businesses like mine. I don’t feel we’re being supported or encouraged even to try and be better.”

He pointed specifically to Labour’s rhetoric as undermining British optimism, referencing the shadow chancellor’s comments about aspiring to “American-style optimism” during a trip on China’s bullet train. “Between you and the boss [Starmer], all you’ve done is talk down the UK,” he said.

Stewart also expressed dismay at government plans for stricter employment rights and what he sees as punitive taxes on business assets passed between family members, echoing widespread disquiet among SMEs. “We are good at what we do,” he said. “I don’t want to be worrying about day-one employment rights. I want to be making great golf trolleys and trying to sell them.”

The entrepreneur was one of about 400 “export champions” appointed by the Department for Business and Trade to share insights on growing overseas sales. While he praised the scheme’s intentions, he said burdensome policy measures had tipped him towards quitting.

Not all export champions share Stewart’s stance. Adam Sopher, co-founder of luxury popcorn producer Joe & Seph’s, chooses to remain. “It is better to represent as an export champion and have some influence than not be able to,” he said, noting that 30 per cent of his business comes from export sales. “The government can do more to help small companies expand into Europe, and I am keen to help.”

Sopher acknowledged that rising national insurance contributions and increased costs are hurting margins across the sector, but views the role of export champion as a chance to push for constructive policy solutions.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson thanked Stewart for his work but argued that “driving economic growth is our number one mission. Britain is back, open for business, and we’re focused on widening opportunities for businesses to export and break into new markets.”

Stewart’s resignation, however, underscores the mounting tension between smaller exporters and policy decisions that they feel hamper competitiveness—at a time when the government is making high-profile announcements aimed at spurring growth. Whether these new initiatives can quell dissatisfaction among key SME figures remains to be seen.

Read more:
Export champion quits over ‘anti-business’ stance, claiming Starmer and Reeves ‘talk down the UK’

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Busy week ahead for Trump, Cabinet picks
next post
Musk’s DOGE takes aim at ‘viper’s nest’ federal agency with global footprint

You may also like

Purplebricks to sell houses free to win market...

December 13, 2023

Nicole Kidman Joins Paycom Webinar and Podcast to...

January 31, 2025

10 Reasons Why So Many Are Relocating to...

March 4, 2025

Six by Nico launches ‘Six by You’ crowdfund,...

August 12, 2025

Rishi Sunak set to make history as Boris...

October 24, 2022

Renters’ set to get protection as watchdog launches...

March 1, 2023

Looking To Grow Your Online Following? Here’s How...

September 12, 2022

Court of Appeal ruling empowers businesses to reclaim...

March 26, 2025

Flexible office occupancy rates recover to pre-pandemic levels

December 23, 2022

David Lloyd adds desks and spas so members...

January 2, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • House Democrats call on Rubio to allow injured children from Gaza into US following visa halt

      August 27, 2025
    • SkyWater pitches itself as all-American firm as Trump mulls more equity deals following Intel deal

      August 27, 2025
    • 600,000 Chinese Students Would Be a Windfall for the United States

      August 26, 2025
    • EPA urged by state AGs to axe funds for ‘radical’ climate project accused of training judges

      August 26, 2025
    • ‘Doctor Strangelove with a mustache’: Bolton blasted for ‘profiteering’ off US secrets by White House advisor

      August 26, 2025
    • Bolton may be in hot water as FBI investigation expands beyond controversial book

      August 26, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,886)
    • Investing (2,242)
    • Politics (16,495)
    • Stocks (3,228)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved