Britons need better work ethic, says senior Tory MP.
"We need a work ethic," says shadow home secretary Chris Philp
Britain must "up its game" and develop a work ethic to compete in the global economic race, the Tory shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, has said.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Political Opinion with Nick Robinson, he said there were nine million working-age adults out of work and the UK "needed everyone to do their bit" to keep up with countries like China and India.
He said he had worked hard throughout his career to build businesses, adding: "It worked for me, it can work for the country too."
During the interview, the MP also recalled his time under Liz Truss, saying he had called for restraint but was not listened to.
His comments were echoed by his opponents, including the Lib Dems who said: "No one can doubt Chris Philp's work ethic after he has brought down the economy in just 39 days as Chancellor of the Exchequer."
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "The British public will undoubtedly take his advice with a grain of salt."
A Labour Party spokesman said the Conservatives had "really braved" to tell the public that the previous government's economic failures were "really their fault," in response to Philp's comments. "They are the same old Conservatives. They haven't changed and they haven't learned anything."
Who are the millions of Britons who are unemployed? The number of young people who are neither in work nor in school is 870,000.
Philp was elected MP for Croydon South in 2015 and has worked in several Conservative government departments, including the Home Office and the Department of Justice.
Before entering politics, he founded businesses in finance and travel.
He said he developed a strong work ethic in his early teens, delivering newspapers, washing people's cars and working at Sainsburys. "I discovered that hard work has its own rewards and I've continued to do so ever since."
"It's something I'd like to instill more in our national culture."
Asked if he thought the belief in hard work was something that was lacking in Britain, he said: "I kind of do."
"There are nine million working-age adults who are not working."
"As we compete globally with countries like South Korea, China, India, we need a work ethic, we need everyone to contribute."
"We're in a global race which means we have to be competitive and that means we have to work hard."
"As a country, we need to step up our game."
Although Labour denounced Chris Philp's language, there is perhaps more agreement between the two main parties on the substance, if not the form. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that "those who can work will work" and that "as a country we cannot continue to foot the bill for the growing number of people out of work".
She has agreed to £3bn in welfare cuts planned by the previous Conservative government, but the implementation arrangements will not be clear until the details are published in the spring.
Almost three million of the nine million economically inactive people are not working for health reasons, and without action this figure is expected to rise significantly.
When the Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, announced plans to help young people "earn and learn" last November, she also confirmed that those who chose not to take up new opportunities could lose their benefits.
"A stupid idea"
Chris Philp was chief secretary to the Treasury in the autumn of 2022, when Truss' mini-budget of tax cuts caused market turmoil, leading to his resignation as prime minister. After the measures were announced, Philp posted on social media saying: "It's great to see the pound strengthening thanks to the UK's new growth plan."
However, this was quickly followed by a dramatic fall in the value of the pound as the market reacted badly to the mini-budget.
Questioned about the post, Philp told Nick Robinson: "Obviously commenting on currency movements was a stupid idea and I shouldn't have done it – I've learned my lesson."
He said Truss' tax cuts would have to be accompanied by "some spending restraint to help balance the books and maintain confidence in the market."
"I've made that argument internally... but it hasn't been heard."
"I hope, despite the difficulties and the very bad market reaction, that there is a way to implement a growth plan... In the end, there was no way to do it. "If my suggestions had been heard a little earlier, there was a much greater chance that it would have worked."
"It will always be regrettable that these points were not considered and not heard." »
"A moment of shock"
In a wide-ranging interview with Nick Robinson, Philp said that while he has always worked hard and taken responsibility for his life, it was difficult when, in 2013, his twins were born prematurely and he had "no control" and had to rely on help from others.
His son and daughter were born at 25 weeks and one day, just after the legal limit for abortion.
"The doctor was completely honest, he said that at this stage there is only a 50/50 chance of survival, and even if they survive, there is a very high risk of disability.
"It was a moment of shock." He said there was a "happy ending" and that despite a difficult year at the beginning, they were "absolutely fine."