'So insulting!' Small business owner HITS BACK at Labour minister who branded employers 'not working people'

A small business owner has hit back at a Labour minister who claimed employers were not "working people."

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds insisted there was a difference between employers and employees, despite being challenged with the example of pie seller Paul Bowen, who says his business is struggling to stay afloat following rises in inflation, National Insurance, and the minimum wage.

Speaking exclusively to GB News, Mr Bowen said the minister insulted not only him, but all small business owners across Britain.

He said: "It is so insulting to small business owners. I cannot believe she thinks we don't work. I speak for every small business. The plumber, butcher, hard grafter, bricklayer, construction home worker, cleaner, everyone. We feel insulted."

Mr Bowen challenged Ms Reynolds to visit his business in Chorley, Lancashire, to understand how he believes government policy is "penalising employers."

"Small business owners work more than the standard hours. You can't even put a contract on us because of the hours that we work.

"I want to show her that inside and outside of my business. I want to show her how minuscule the profit margins are right now. If we don't do something soon, that's it. We're shut.

"This is not just me, this is every small business at the moment. And not just small businesses, big businesses too."

In an interview with Camilla Tominey on GB News, the Treasury Minister and MP for Wycombe had claimed that Labour did not break a manifesto promise by raising taxes on landlords and savers.

Ms Reynolds argued that the additional taxes were "two per cent on the income tax bands that are in for property and for savings" so “not the same” as raising income tax.

When quizzed about Mr Bowen’s predicament, Ms Reynolds said she would love to discuss his concerns.

“I'd love to talk to Paul at some stage. I don't know which elements or which tax he is talking about in this Budget because we made a very conscious decision for the tax increases to be targeted and fair."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Labour minister sparks outrage after saying Britain's employers are 'not working people'
• Budget shows Labour is planning an early general election, Robert Jenrick tells GB News
• Nigel Farage delivers verdict after Rupert Lowe accused of doing Tory deal: 'Vote Restore, get Labour'

Mr Bowen addressed this comment head-on, accusing the minister of not understanding how company directors get paid.

"She said she wants to know what tax we're talking about. I'm talking about the director's dividend tax. She did mention that she's supposed to be in the Treasury. She's supposed to know how directors get paid, how self-employed people get paid.

"They get paid via dividends. And that was a two per cent increase on dividends. I'm not crying poverty, I'm just saying business owners yet again are being penalised."

Mr Bowen admitted to GB News that he could soon be forced to let staff members go.

He said: "Imagine me turning round to 37 staff and saying, I'm sorry. We're going to have to close our doors.

"I'm sorry. I can't provide for you. That's it. It's heartbreaking. It's actually heartbreaking."

In Ms Reynolds interview on GB News, she said that the Government had offered business rates relief to tens of thousands of small businesses as part of the Chancellor’s Budget.

However, Mr Bowen, who previously starred on BBC’s The Apprentice, said that he would not qualify for business rates relief because he operates two stores.

Conservative and Reform UK politicians echoed small business owners’ fury online.

Shadow work and pensions minister Helen Whately said: “This attitude is why Labour is killing our economy. They don't understand businesses are built by hard graft. By working people."

Meanwhile, on Ms Reynolds’ original comments that employers were "companies" rather than "working people," Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: "Tell that to the millions of small business owners who employ people. Labour haven't a clue about business."

A Treasury spokesman previously said: "This Government has shown repeatedly and in the face of a difficult global economic backdrop that we will stick to our manifesto tax commitments.

"We are being fiscally disciplined whilst keeping our promises not to increase the rates of income tax, national insurance, VAT, or corporation tax."