Thomas-Symonds clashes with minister from new look business and trade department

At trade and business department questions today, shadow secretary of state for trade Nick Thomas-Symonds criticised the government following Tuesday’s reshuffle. The rejig saw the business brief, previously incorporated with the department for business, energy and industrial strategy, merged with the trade role.

Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “The truth is, you can swap around ministers and departmental names, but at the heart of it is a failing government out of ideas”.

A minister from the new department, Nusrat Ghani, responded: “we on this side of the House are representing business and I know the Honourable Members’ party were stopping people doing their business by backing the strikes”.