LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought to repair the government's tarnished economic record Monday , reaching out to the business community rocked by a scandal engulfing the Confederation of British Industry.
"We are going to keep engaging to make the most pro-business, pro-growth country in the world," Sunak said in an address that was broadcast on social networking site LinkedIn. Current finance minister Jeremy Hunt, addressing Monday's gathering of chief executives and other business heads, said the government was"very concerned about the allegations of what's happened at the CBI.He added:"It is not for us to decide who business wants to engage with but we are not going to wait for a reincarnation of the CBI or whoever, we want to engage the whole time, every week, every day, with business.
"This ... was our most grievous error, which led to a reluctance amongst women to formalise complaints," he said. The UK remains plagued by double-digit inflation, prompting calls from many employers for the government to do more to stimulate economic output. "Business Connect provides the next fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how we are growing the economy," insisted Sunak."After 13 years, the pattern of Tory economic failure is grinding on," said finance spokesman Pat McFadden.The Conservatives have been in power since 2010, including an initial five years in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.