Conservatives vow to limit intervention

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE63D07S20100414" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LONDON (Reuters) - The Conservatives would seek to limit government intervention in business should they win the May 6 election, the party's business spokesman told the Financial Times.

The Conservatives are seeking to end 13 years of Labour rule and have won the backing of several business leaders during a campaign battle with Labour over plans to fix a fragile economy.

In an interview published in the FT's Wednesday edition, Ken Clarke said the Conservatives were against protectionist measures that could harm competition.

"The fact that we have got into such calamitous trouble because of bank failure, bad regulation and government reckless spending does not mean we start throwing out all the things that made us a competitive economy before," said Clarke.

"I'm on the whole against protectionist reactions to any kind of financial crisis."

The election is shaping up to become the tightest race since 1992, with the latest opinion polls showing no party has a big enough margin to be sure of winning an overall majority in parliament.

Clarke, a former chancellor who has been touted as a contender for the role if the Conservatives win the election, said Labour's pledge to extend government's powers to scrutinise foreign takeovers of UK companies was "populist nonsense."

He criticised Labour's plans to require two-thirds of shareholders to back corporate takeovers in future, saying this would "tend to protect weak management."

He said the Conservatives would press ahead with the privatisation of the Royal Mail postal service.

[sevenandseven]

As usual Tories talking in sound bites. Limiting government intervention in business? Does that mean no restraints on a still greed driven banking system. No minimum wage? Letting those businesses that support the Tories do business without any control over health and safety, employee rights, pensions as long as the shareholders are happy. And pressing ahead with Royal Mail privatisation under the guise of modernisation. When Mandelson tried it the only two bidders were a Canadian venture capitalist fund and a foreign owned postal service. The Tories will do what they have always done. Profess a love of the British way of life while doing their best to destroy it.

[steven100]

The tories are scum of the earth and nothing more than greedy toffs, its about time we stuck up for ourselves and threw this piece of ***** deal out the window,then forced Ward and Hayes to go to ****.

[hugo3210]

All, I urge you to read the following article re the Conservatives' plans to privatise RM. Without a doubt the Tories will privatise RM to the highest bidder as this is what the party stands for. Once in private hands, 'efficiency' will be the name of the game and jobs will go at an even faster rate and we shall all be made to work much harder than we already do. I for one will vote Labour as they clearly have shelved all plans for privatisation. Last year Labour only planned a part-privatisation, the Tories will go for 100% and a private equity house is being lined up - we all know what a PE house will do to the company.

If you dont believe me read here http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100414/tu ... 6b408.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I encourage you all to think before you vote, dont be fooled by The Sun and The Times - they are only biased against Labour as their owner Rupert Murdoch is all pally with David Cameron. Read The Independent for an unbiased view of what the REALITY is.

Please encourage all our colleagues to think before they vote, I really dont want the Tories messing up our jobs in the company we love . I still have some time to go before I retire