Kemi Badenoch has refused to say if the Conservatives would reverse Labour’s increase in employers’ national insurance.
The Tory leader told business leaders at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference she would change any Labour budget policies that are not working and not raising any money.
When asked by Sky News if she would reverse the increase in employers’ national insurance, due to rise to 15% from April 2025, Ms Badenoch hinted she would likely change it but said she would not comment on “every bit of micropolicy”.
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She said it was “quite clear” the last government, led by Rishi Sunak, did not think national insurance paid by employers “should be this high” as they did not raise it at the last Tory budget.
“The fact that so many organisations, especially those that have people who are on the lowest wages, are saying that this is becoming unaffordable, means that we should look again,” she said.
“We believe that employers’ national insurance, while necessary to help us fund public services, is a tax on jobs. I know this from personal experience.
“When employers have to pay it, it means that they have less money for higher wages, they may not create new jobs.”
Ms Badenoch also told the conference: “There is no point in me just complaining about Labour when it was obvious that we Conservatives lost the confidence of business.”
She said the Conservatives “must be the party of business, not just big business, not just corporates, but small business too”.
“The new government believes that invisible businesses can absorb…
