Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister without Portfolio, commenting on Liam Fox’s remarks regarding British businesspeople, said:

“These are offensive and crass comments from the disgraced Liam Fox. Every MP knows of hard working businesses in their constituency who are struggling at the moment. None of them are lazy or more interested in playing golf. 

“You’d hope that his enforced break from office would have afforded him some humility, but it seems not. He should apologise immediately for insulting Britain’s businessmen and women ‎whose hard work in the national interest could teach him a thing or two.

"This latest gaffe ultimately rests with Theresa May who showed shocking poor judgement in bringing Liam Fox back despite his last disgrace.‎ It’s symptomatic of the Tories increasingly shambolic approach to Brexit. Just days ago David Davis was slapped down for his comments on the single market, while Theresa May herself has repeatedly been unable to answer even the most basic question on what Brexit means. We need a steady hand and a plan to do what’s best for the country right now but the Tories are giving us neither.”