'He's absolutely bang on': Entrepreneurs back Jeremy Clarkson after star asked 'who would set up business in UK now?'

Entrepreneurs have backed Jeremy Clarkson’s warning over how hard it is to start a business in Andy Burnham’s Britain.On the main stage of the Tory party conference this week, the former Top Gear presenter turned farmer and publican attacked Labour’s treatment of farming and enterprise.Suggesting he may open another pub – but not in Britain – the Clarkson's Farm star asked: ‘Why would anybody set up a business in this country right now?’The comments, ahead of what looks set to be another bleak Budget for business this month, won the backing of employers still reeling from £75billion of tax hikes since Labour came to power. Jeremy Clarkson made a surprise appearance at the Tory party conference where he attacked Labour's treatment of farming and businessHotelier and entrepreneur Steve Perez, chief executive and founder of Hooch and VK maker Global Brands, said: ‘He's absolutely bang on. I mean, this government in particular has had a smash-and-grab on business. They just see it as a cash cow to get more money for their schemes.’He pointed to the £25billion national insurance tax raid on employment and inheritance tax raid on family-owned firms and farms.‘There’s no way I would buy another hotel or pub because it’s just not worth the hassle,’ said Perez.‘I think Rachel Reeves got it all wrong; she didn’t really understand business. And as Jeremy Clarkson said, they didn’t really know what they’re doing. 'I really hope John Healey will have some common sense and understanding of business.’Matthew Elliott, president of the Jobs Foundation, a charity that supports business in creating work, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson has asked why anyone would set up a business in the UK, and anyone who has watched his show will struggle to answer.‘Hospitality is often the first rung on the jobs ladder, so with even the likes of Clarkson under pressure, it's no surprise that nearly a million young people are stuck in their bedrooms.‘Government schemes to help people into work are welcome, but the more meaningful step would be to cut costs and make it easier for businesses to create those jobs in the first place.’ Don't wait until Budget day. You need to start protecting yourself nowI'm Simon Lambert, publisher of This Is Money, and you need to know that your pension, savings and property could soon be under attack. On October 28, Andy Burnham’s government will set out its Budget. We don't know what they will do, but we do know about tax raids already on the way. The best thing you can do is get prepared. So I've called on some of Britain’s leading financial experts to create my new six-week plan. I'll cut through the noise and take you step-by-step through everything you need to do to protect your money. Don’t wait. Click here and sign up to Protect Your Money now. Andreas Adamides, chief executive of Helm, which represents more than 400 founders of fast-growing firms, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson has put his finger on a problem I hear about from founders every week. 'A £146,000 national insurance rise is not a problem unique to a celebrity's pub, and thousands of growing businesses face the same pressure.‘Clarkson says the rise landed just as his pub reached profitability, which is exactly where it hurts growing businesses most. For a scale-up, higher employers' national insurance can mean hiring five people instead of ten.‘Founders are being squeezed at both ends, paying more to employ people and keeping less when they sell, and now there is talk of capital gains tax rising again.'Nearly 6,000 business owners have already left in two years, and we should be persuading them to stay.'He added: 'Successful scale-ups create jobs and the tax revenue Britain depends on, so backing them is not special treatment. The Budget is the Prime Minister's chance to show founders that if they build something here, Britain wants them to stay.’The comments came after analysis showed billionaires with £120billion to their names have fled high-tax Britain since Labour came to power and there could be worse to come.Figures from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index laid bare the vast sums of money and assets behind the exodus of the super-rich over the past two years in what was described last night as ‘a disaster for the country’.Luke Johnson, the entrepreneur and co-owner of Gail’s Bakery, said: ‘It is a disaster for the country that big taxpayers and important investors are leaving.‘They help fund public services and create jobs, and their exits will create a growing hole in the national finances.‘We should be attracting talent and wealth, not alienating it.’Hugh Osmond, the former Pizza Express entrepreneur, said: ‘It’s what we all said would happen and Labour didn’t believe it. Too high tax – big taxpayers leave. Obvious.’Protect Your Money – sign-up to our six-week plan The Budget is coming – but are you prepared? Sign up to our six-week plan and Simon Lambert and his team of financial experts will reveal how to Protect Your Money. If you're a subscriber, it's completely FREE > Sign-up to Protect Your Money DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you