Export champion quits over ‘anti-business’ stance, claiming Starmer and Reeves ‘talk down the UK’

Mark Stewart, CEO of Stuart Golf, resigned from Gloster, resigned from his role as one of the government’s “export heroes”, citing frustration with what he calls “business control policies” in the Labor Party under the leadership of Sir Kerr Starmer and Rashil Reeves.

Stewart, which exports electric golf vehicles, exports half of its sales of 7 million pounds to the United States.

His departure comes after the advisor’s speech on Wednesday, where ads were made about airport expansions, updated regulations, and investment in technology groups to enhance UK growth prospects.

After just returned from a trip to America, Stewart, 45, says that the contrast in positions towards business cannot be more clear. “I cannot be part of this,” he told the Times. “Every turn, there is something that makes life more difficult for people trying to manage small companies like me. I don’t feel supported or encouraged even to try to be better.”

He specifically referred to the Labor Party’s speech as undermining British optimism, noting the comments of the shadow consultant about the ambition to “American optimism” during a trip on the Chinese train. “Between you and its president (Starmer), all you did is speaking to the United Kingdom,” he said.

Stewart has also expressed its dissatisfaction with government plans for the most striking recruitment rights and what he deems punitive taxes on commercial assets that were approved among family members, echoing a large scale between small and medium -sized companies. He said: “We are good at what we are doing.” “I don’t want to be concerned about employment rights on the first day. I want to make wonderful golf vehicles and try to sell them.”

The businessman was one of about 400 “export heroes” appointed by the Ministry of Business and Trade to exchange ideas on increasing external sales. While praising the intentions of the scheme, he said that exhausted policy measures had stopped smoking.

Not all export heroes participate in Stewart’s position. Adam Sevir, co -founder of the luxury popcorn producer, Joe & Seif, chooses to stay. “It is better to represent a export hero and have some influence instead of his inability to do so,” he said, noting that 30 percent of his work comes from export sales. “The government can do more to help small companies expand in Europe, and I am keen to help.”

Sofer acknowledged that the high national insurance contributions and increased costs hurts margins throughout the sector, but it sees the role of the export champion as an opportunity to pressure constructive policy solutions.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Business and Trade thanked Stewart for his work, but he argued that “the economic growth leadership is our first mission. Britain has returned open to work, and we are focusing on expanding opportunities for companies to export new markets and storm.”

However, Stewart’s resignation emphasizes the escalating tension between the smaller exporters and the policy decisions that they feel hindering the competitiveness-at a time when the government issues high-level advertisements aimed at increasing growth. Whether these new initiatives can calm dissatisfaction between the numbers of the main small and medium companies, it still should be seen.