LEADING Tory, John Redwood, visited Kidderminster's largest carpet manufacturer as part of the Conservatives' war on "red tape".

The Shadow Secretary of State for Deregulation - who famously challenged John Major for leadership of the party in 1995 - was given a guided tour of Brintons factory on the Stourport Road.

Mr Redwood told the Shuttle/Times and News: "I am being told everywhere that they feel the cumulative impact of regulation by this Government and the European government with whom it co-operates is now very large and, in some cases, is pricing us out of markets and destroying jobs."

Eddie Gardiner, Brintons' finance director, said "regulatory creep" was making life increasingly difficult for the company.

He added: "It is a constant flow and you get submerged. You are dealing with competition from around the globe, not just Europe."

Regulations on chemicals and emissions was just one example of strict laws which hampered production, he said.

Mr Redwood, who was on a tour of the Midlands, said he was pleased to see Brintons was able to survive in the ever competitive marketplace.

He explained: "I think this is a very successful company and I have been very impressed today by the work they have done to keep up with the enormous volume of taxes and laws and have been successful in developing new ideas, new designs and implementing new technology through investment to keep the company efficient."

He said deregulation was now "fashionable consensus" across the political spectrum but understood voters' fears about the dangers of giving firms a free rein.

He said: "I have no more wish to see people suffer from bad employers than anybody else. I represent a lot of people.

"I want them to live in good, healthy conditions and work for decent people and you need a framework of law, you need some regulation, but in the last few years we have seen a huge increase in the burden and instead of protecting people's jobs it has destroyed jobs."

Regulation was actually damaging the environment, he said: "What happens is the business closes in Britain and it goes to a country with none of those regulations at all."

MP Taylor rejects Redwood's

'little group' comments

JOHN Redwood took a swipe at Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor during his visit to Brintons.

Asked by the Shuttle/Times and News if he thought the Health Concern MP had maintained a following among district residents, he said: "It doesn't look like it, no. It looks as if his little group are not experiencing the popularity they once had. It is quite difficult for him to keep that kind of thing going."

He also reiterated Conservative leader Michael Howard's pledge that Tory candidate, Mark Garnier, will take Dr Taylor's seat at the election, expected next May.

Dr Taylor rejected Mr Redwood's comments, saying: "I am still very keen to stay because I've certainly got things I want to do and there's a lot on the hospital issue that I want to complete.

"It's up to the people - if they want me to continue, they will put me in or they won't. I would, very much, hope to still be there because things are going our way on the hospital side and I would like to be there to complete it.

"When I walk round the town, I don't get the impression the support has gone away. Everybody who speaks to me wants me to go on, so I'm very hopeful."