Bye bye Rachel

Thank god

Sir Kier has finally been toppled after squandering a massive majority that really could have been extraordinary in terms of doing things that were for the common good. You know, for working people, for business people, for the grafters that get up every day and make a contribution to society. Governing is very hard but to be honest he failed.

I don't know Rachel Reeves. But if she does lose her job as Chancellor, which now seems likely, I won't be mourning. Not because she's a politician with no business experience. Not because I enjoy seeing politicians fail. I'll be relieved because I fundamentally disagree with the economic logic, if you can call it that.

I admit I'm not an economist. I've never worked at the Treasury. I've never written a fiscal strategy, although I have of course written plenty of business plans. But I do understand debt. All families do.

If I was in the shit financially, had a mortgage hanging round my neck, a car on HP, a washing machine bought on credit and was already wondering how the hell I was going to pay for Christmas, my first thought would not be: "Tell you what, let's borrow even more money."

Most sensible people would conclude that the first priority is getting spending under control. Maybe do some overtime or get a second job. Maybe cut back a bit. Maybe stop buying things we can't afford. What we probably wouldn't do is wander into the nearest bank and ask for another massive loan.

I've advised and supported hundreds of founders. Not once has anybody said to me: "You know what would help me grow this business? Higher costs, more bureaucracy, more taxes and another load of debt."

Not once.

The great tragedy of British politics is that many of the people making decisions about business have never actually built one. What they often don't understand is the sheer fragility of a small business. You know, the sleepless nights. The cash flow panic. The customer who doesn't pay.

Most business owners aren't sitting on piles of cash like Bond villains. They're trying to survive. Just that. Instead, governments of all colours seem to view entrepreneurs as a slightly suspicious group who need supervising. We don't. WHAT WE NEED IS GOVERNMENT TO GET OUT OF THE SODDING WAY. The woman opening a café. The bloke starting a plumbing business. The software developer launching a product. The manufacturer taking on an apprentice. Those people take the personal risk and create growth. Not Westminster.

When Rachel Reeves goes, I won't be celebrating her failure. But I will be hoping that whoever replaces her finally understands a simple truth. You cannot borrow, tax and regulate your way to prosperity. Theoretically I wish you could, but practically you can't.

At some point somebody has to pay the bloody bill and at the moment it's business. Kier said "we will tread lightly on your lives" before he got elected. He and Rachel have done the exact opposite.