Tory MPs used to defend businesses on their bad days, now they bash them on their good days

The reputation of the Conservatives as the self-styled “party of business” has taken quite the battering in the last few years.  The low point in relations between the two, until now, was probably when Boris Johnson was forced to deny he had said “f*** business” when asked about its concerns over Brexit.  

Still, the comments of the new MP for North Devon, in which she waded into the ongoing row over free school meals, will have come as a shock.  

In a post on Facebook dripping in sarcasm, which has now been deleted, Selaine Saxby said she was “delighted our local businesses have bounced back so much after lockdown they are able to give away food for free”.  

The former teacher added that she “very much” hoped that cafes and others involved in the initiative “will not be seeking any further government support”.  

Ms Saxby later claimed her remarks had been taken out of context, although she did not specify in what way.   

The row poses a wider question for business.  Gone are the days when Tory MPs used to defend them on their bad days. Now Tory MPs are attacking them on their good days.

On an issue where they have the support of the public and are arguably showing corporate social responsibility.  

Once, in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, Boris Johnson called on the country to be kinder to bankers.  Now one of his own MPs is attacking businesses for feeding children.  

The row comes, of course, as the Conservative government’s relationship with business faces another tough moment – as both stare down the barrel of a potential no-deal Brexit.  

And it comes at an interesting point in British politics.  

A few years ago the then shadow chancellor John McDonnell undertook a “tea offensive” designed to charm British business. The aim was to ease industry fears over his party’s plans for government, and in doing so spike some of the attack lines expected to be deployed at the next general election.

It was not a success. One executive of a large British company described it as “less a tea offensive, just offensive”.  

Labour is now, as Sir Keir Starmer declared at the start of the summer, “under new management”.  

And parts of the Conservative Party might just be at their own crossroads in their relationship with British business.