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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Business secretary apologises for Budget rumours and pledges to cut energy costs for companies

Peter Kyle will address a CBI conference later today outlining his plans to boost the economy

º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ business secretary has apologised for rumours surrounding the upcoming Budget and has pledged to cut energy bills for British companies.

Peter Kyle told Times Radio on Monday that he "understood" the speculation was a distraction in response to concerns about the impact rumours are having on the economy.

“I’m not apologising on behalf of the people who are reporting on the speculation, because that would be absurd," he said.

“What I can apologise for is the fact that there has been so much speculation. I understand that it’s a distraction, but it is speculation and the reporting of such. I’m here to talk about the facts of the economy right now."

Mr Kyle is also expected to outline plans to reduce the cost of electricity bills by 25 per cent for some 7,000 British companies at a Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) event on Monday, at which Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will also speak.

Under the proposals, businesses in a variety of high-growth sectors, including automotive and aerospace, would benefit. An eight-week consultation will determine the companies that are eligible for the initiative.

"It is an incredibly difficult and complicated energy system that we have here," he told Sky News on Monday.

"That is quite extraordinary. It will bring us much more into line with the EU average for costs. It won't get there entirely, but we'll get we'll start moving in that direction.