16:12

Sajid Javid has been quick out of the blocks with some unofficial leadership campaigning, making a speech to a thinktank extolling the merits of small business, and bemoaning the lack of government help they receive.

The home secretary, seen as a definite contender when Theresa May eventually announces her departure, was speaking at an event by the Centre for Policy Studies, the free enterprise organisation co-founded by Margaret Thatcher.

Introducing a new report calling for a simplified tax regime for small firms, Javid reminisced about the women’s clothing store in Bristol run by his father, above which the family lived:

I remember with my dad, his business had its ups and downs. I could see how the family mood would change sometimes when a bill arrived and you wonder: are you going to have the business over the next few week, the next few months, to actually meet that bill. Could you be in trouble?

Javid was critical at the lack of what he called a “level playing field” over tax for small and big businesses, and was particularly scathing about tech giants:



Whilst the small businesses are paying their fair share of tax they see these tech businesses paying what I would say is a piddling share of tax, if anything at all. That is not fair, it’s not right, and it’s not acceptable.

None of this message could be described as surprising, but it was a reminder of the credibility Javid brings as someone who can genuinely understand the difficulties of small businesses and struggling families. The speech also reminded the audience of another aspect to Javid – that he is a somewhat wooden speaker. Either way, he is definitely among the front few to replace May.

