Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, responding to Sajid Javid’s speech at the Tory party conference, said:

“Sajid Javid’s speech was full of rhetoric, but woefully lacking in action to support British business.

“He failed to address the productivity crisis and the skills shortage that are worsening on his watch. And there was no mention of an industrial strategy to support key strategic industries like steel. That is why John McDonnell and I are visiting Redcar today to see what the government should be doing to safeguard these important national assets.

“Despite what Sajid Javid claims, the Conservatives are not the party of working people. Their changes to tax credits will leave millions of hardworking families an average of £1,300 a year worse off.”