raged over whether it is the Confederation of British Industry , the Federation of Small Businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce or some other body that truly represents British business. The winner this year was the lucky group whose conference fell four weeks before the election. The leaders of all three main parties took turns on November 18th to wooNone of the trio had an easy task. Jeremy Corbyn had just unleashed Labour’s latest nationalisation plan, ofaudience.
Like Labour, lots of business leaders are asking questions about the current economic model, though their answers are different, says Josh Hardie, the’s deputy director-general. This summer America’s Business Roundtable, a lobby group, said firms should serve stakeholders as well as shareholders. Many big British businesses agree. Delegates at thebash noted that Mr Corbyn’s emphasis on green issues matches firms’ growing keenness to fight climate change.
Mr Johnson had better jokes. He warned his audience of a “nightmare in Downing Street” on Friday 13th in the event of a Labour win. But the audience wanted seriousness. His shelving of a planned cut to corporation tax, from 19% to 17%, seemed wise. Firms are keen to be seen to be paying their fair share. A package of smaller tax breaks was on offer instead. Mr Corbyn said he would review the apprenticeship levy.
Hanging in the air was the “fuck business” remark made by Mr Johnson last year. The expletive was directed less at firms than at pro-, he later let it be known. Carolyn Fairbairn, its director-general, has kept up the anti-Brexit broadsides. Another target is the Tories’ plan to deregulate business. They are pushing “massive deregulation” and Labour “massive state intervention”, she said. To some, that seemed out of whack.
Obama denounces “wokeness” so what... that means it’s the economists new favorite word? lol