Labour blow as Lord Alan Sugar reprises enterprise tsar role under Tories

Multi-millionaire Lord Alan Sugar has dealt Labour another blow, more than a year after he quit the party because of its "negative" stance on business. The Apprentice star, who scrapped his membership following Ed Miliband's disastrous defeat at the 2015 general election, has now been appointed enterprise tsar by David Cameron's government.

Sugar previously held the role between 2009 and 2010 under Gordon Brown. The government said the move is designed to get more young people interested in apprenticeships.

"I'm delighted to be taking on this challenge. I built successful businesses with the support of hundreds of talented young people who learned their skills on the job – exactly the kinds of skills you learn in an apprenticeship," Sugar said.

"But not enough of our young people know about apprenticeships and what they offer, and too few feel empowered to set up their own business."

The peer will be championing the form of vocational education across England in a series of roadshows. Sugar, who will be supported by the Department for Business and the Department for Education, will also explain how youngsters can start their own business in a bid to instil an entrepreneurial spirit.

"We want every young person in Britain to get on and build a great life for themselves, whether it's by starting an apprenticeship or setting up their own business," said Nick Boles, the skills minister.

"Sugar has huge credibility among young people and I am delighted that he has agreed to help the government bang the drum for apprenticeships and enterprise."

The TV star has also been critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. "If they ever got anywhere near electing him and him being the Prime Minister then I think we should all move to China or somewhere like that and let this place just rot," Sugar told The Evening Standard in October 2015.