Conservative voters who stayed home or cast a protest vote in the general election are having “buyer’s remorse”, believes Tory shadow business minister Harriett Baldwin. The West Worcestershire MP visited businesses in Cirencester last week in the run-up to Gloucestershire County Council’s election on May 1.
She said families and businesses in the Cotswold market town are worried about the impact the Labour government is having on their finances. “One of the things we are hearing from businesses in the amazing town centre of Cirencester is just how difficult it is for them at the moment in terms of making ends meet,” she said.
“With the impact of the increase in national insurance, the increase in terms of business rates – it’s really tough out there for these amazing businesses. I hope that on May 1, local people will back candidates like Jackie Tarleton to keep Gloucestershire County Council with the Conservatives as the largest party and in control.
“So that they can really focus on making sure they spend taxpayers money wisely. People were concerned about what a socialist government would do but I think they have been deeply shocked by how bad it has been and how quickly.
“The Hallowe’en budget has hit areas like Gloucestershire really badly. Farmers are really worried about the family farm tax and we are also hearing from businesses how hard they are finding it paying those extra taxes to a Labour government.
“People are sensing a lot of buyer’s remorse here. A lot of the people who stayed at home last time realise how important it is to get out there and vote Conservative in these elections.
"For people who were, perhaps, tempted by Reform or wanted to vote for them in protest, they are realising they have no track record of ever having run anything in this country. They want their public services well managed.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said the Tory is overlooking the “real” action they are taking to support businesses across the country. They said the government remains committed to supporting enterprise across Britain as we build a stronger, fairer economy for everyone.
"The Conservative shadow minister's claims overlook the real action Labour is taking to support businesses across the UK,” a spokesperson said.
"Our government is delivering a stable economic foundation and targeted support for businesses facing genuine challenges through:
Launched a comprehensive Business Growth Plan focused on cutting unnecessary red tape while maintaining essential protections
Our Industrial Strategy is directing investment to key growth sectors, with special attention to supporting small businesses in town centres
We're working directly with farming communities to ensure family farms remain viable while meeting our environmental commitments
"While opposition parties focus on political point-scoring, we're implementing practical solutions to create the stability and confidence businesses need to thrive. The government remains committed to supporting enterprise across Britain as we build a stronger, fairer economy for everyone.”
Andy Farmer, Labour candidate for Cirencester Park asked if a Conservative shadow minister's visit "is going to fix our local issues or whether it was just another attempt to distract voters from the real local issues, ahead of casting their vote".
"The Conservatives' approach to "well managed public services" has been decisions that look OK in the short term, yet cause bigger problems in the long term. The Reform approach is to make more cuts to public services.," he said.
"But this month in Cirencester we can see the consequences of this approach: weekly arsons and vandalism, graffiti, fly-tipping, farmyard thefts, unaffordable living, polluted rivers, repeated roadworks and roads that are falling apart.
"Things have been getting worse locally as a result of funding decisions made in previous years.
"Broken local public services affect local businesses too - these problems won't go away by subsidising inheritance tax bills, de-funding public services or by trying to emulate [Elon Musk's] Department of Government Efficiency.
"We need to invest in our public services if we want them to improve."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who also visited the county last week, said there should be “no forgiveness” for what the Conservative Party has done to the country over the 14 years they were in government.
Conservative Jackie Tarleton is contesting the Cirencester Park division. Other candidates standing are Labour’s Andy Farmer, Liberal Democrat Joe Harris, Bob Irving the Green Party candidate and Mackenzie Jayne Vaughan is standing for Reform UK.
A full list of all the candidates standing can be found here.
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