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"Trust in politicians has always been fragile but 2024 has shattered whatever remnants remained"

ended 30. December 2024

Labour's Waspi U-turn, an Autumn Budget that has been widely criticised for being out of touch with the struggles of everyday business owners, and a government now turning to regulators to stimulate a contracting economy have once again put trust in politicians in the spotlight. Against this backdrop, Newspage asked 10 business owners whether their trust in politicians and their ability to make the right decisions for the UK economy increased or decreased in 2024. Their views are below.

10 responses from the Newspage community

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Tony RedondoVerified
Founder at Cosmos Currency Exchange
My trust in politicians and their capacity to make the right choices for the UK economy has never been lower. The recent Budget showed exactly how out of touch with real economic struggles this government is, often because the decision-makers often lack business experience. This disconnect contributes to a decline in trust regarding politicians' ability to make sound economic decisions. Orwell's quote from "Animal Farm" resonates here: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Even before the General Election, the National Centre for Social Research reported on 12 June that trust in Britain’s government is at a record low. Following Labour's General Election victory on 4 July, PM Keir Starmer has become more unpopular than any PM in over 40 years, with many feeling politicians consistently break promises once elected.
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Kate AllenVerified
Owner at Finest Stays
As a small business owner, my trust in politicians to make the right decisions for the UK economy has eroded significantly in 2024. Running a business is excruciatingly hard; every day involves battling rising costs, striving for profitability and committing to the livelihoods of employees. These are challenges that many politicians seem fundamentally disconnected from. The Labour U-turn on Waspi and the litany of broken promises across all parties underline the erosion of trust in leadership. The recent Budget further highlights how out of touch Westminster is with the realities of the real economy. It's one thing to make fiscal decisions on paper; it’s another thing entirely to understand the sheer bravery required to invest in a business, create jobs and navigate an increasingly challenging economic landscape.
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Keith BuddenVerified
Managing Director at Ensurety
Personally, I think trust in politicians of all parties at a Government level is at an all-time-low, whether that's a result of the sting of the WASPI decision, the nitpicking pedantry of whether Employer's NIC is or isn't an increase in NIC or "our pensioners need looking after" but we will let them freeze this winter. As for the Conservative leader, I guess she's minimising her chances of being caught out as her new policies are minimal and she's such a shrinking violet that 30 minutes at PMQ's appears to be the limit of her working week. I'm a Conservative supporter but I can't think of one thing she's yet said at the despatch box that is memorable. I'm beginning to think Ed Davey may be the only constant. He at least manages to be the village jester in and out of Parliament.
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Iain SwattonVerified
Director at Exemplar Financial Services
Trust in politicians has always been fragile but 2024 has shattered whatever remnants remained. Labour’s WASPI U-turn in December reminded us, yet again, how often promises dissolve when faced with reality — a tradition shared generously across party lines. Meanwhile, a Budget seemingly crafted in a parallel universe has left many wondering if the people steering the economy have ever set foot in the 'real world,' let alone run a business. For ordinary people and businesses, the sense of mistrust feels less like a passing phase and more like a permanent state of affairs. Some might have clung to the belief that things couldn’t possibly get worse but 2024 appears to be the year that sentiment was put to the test, and not in a good way.
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Richard O'Connor0
Director at First Mats
As a small business owner, I have no confidence in the government or their ability to deliver its main mission of growing the economy. Despite being widely expected to win months before the election, it seems they entered office without a clear understanding of the economic challenges or a coherent plan to address them. This is not helped by the lack of business ownership experience within the cabinet. Instead, their surprise announcements on cutting winter fuel payments, increasing employers' National Insurance, and U-Turn on WASPI support, have left many voters feeling betrayed and disillusioned. We have no idea what will come next from Labour, and I don't think they know either.
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David StirlingVerified
Independent Financial Adviser at Mint Wealth
You know it's a cold day when your local politician has their hands in their own pockets. Public opinion of politicians is at a nadir as they have seen U-turns, scandals and complete bare-faced lies for over a decade now. There is no trust in the leadership of either parties as we watch them publicly twist and turn with self-serving plans and policies.
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Darryl DhofferVerified
Founder at The Mortgage Geezer
The Autumn Budget was a dagger aimed squarely at the heart of small businesses and yet, in the UK, small businesses make up 99.2% of the total business population, according to official Government data in October 2024. The proposed tax hikes and increased regulatory burdens will stifle growth, discourage entrepreneurship, and force many small businesses to close their doors. This short-sighted approach prioritises short-term revenue over long-term economic health. It's a recipe for stagnation and a decline in innovation. Instead of supporting the backbone of our economy, this budget undermines it. Small businesses are the lifeblood of communities, creating jobs and driving economic growth. The government should be doing everything in its power to foster their success, not hinder it.
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Michelle LawsonVerified
Director at Lawson Financial
Politics in the UK is a farce and built on manipulation and lies. Labour had an opportunity, which they have completely missed and they have managed to alienate even the small electorate that voted for them. They forget who is paying their wages and have strangled business and the economy as well as emptying the public purse. Sad times.
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Simon BridglandVerified
Broker at Charwin Private Clients
In the real world outside Westminster, people wonder what they did to deserve the treatment being doled out by the current mob. In the real world, any person or business caught doing shady deals for their buddies, lying on job applications or backpeddling on firm promises as is the case with the Waspi decision would be arrested, sacked or prevented from running a business. MPs of all parties should be accountable and reliable. Instead we are governed by a party full of have-a-go chancers and career politicians.
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Stephen PerkinsVerified
Managing Director at Yellow Brick Mortgages
Trust in politicians has been sinking lower and lower ever since the Lib Dems student loan debacle. Now it sits slightly above the seabed of the Mariana Trench. Many feel politicians are all the same and there is little difference to outcomes regardless of who is in power. This has been validated by the ever-decreasing voter turnout at each election.