Business leaders call for “new direction”
Published : September 2008
Eleven prominent leaders in UK business expressed concern over the Government’s economic policy in a letter published in the Financial Times this month.
The letter, which was said to express only the “personal views” of its signatories and not the companies for which they work, called for a “new direction” to ensure that the UK is better placed both to weather economic downturns and to compete on the global economic stage.
“The lesson of recent years is clear,” the letter said. “Economies must carefully manage public spending and reduce unnecessary budget deficits. They should have simple taxes and competitive tax rates and reduce the burden of regulation. Finally, they must improve educational performance.”
The eleven signatories were: Sir John Egan, chairman of Severn Trent; Anthony Habgood, chairman of Whitbread and Bunzl; Sir John Craven, chairman of Lonmin; Lady Louise Patten, chairman of Brixton; Carpetright chairman and chief executive Lord Harris; JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford; chief executive of Next Simon Wolfson; Sloane Robinson founding partner George Robinson; Anthony Fuller CBE, president of Fuller, Smith and Turner; director of Matheson & Co Lord Leach and founder and president of Dreams Mike Clare.