Leading Article: Rum business

Monday 01 November 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

IT WILL be the first time, we are told, that all three main party leaders have addressed the conference of the Confederation of British Industry, which opens today in Birmingham. No doubt the panjandrums of the boardrooms are pleased that their club bestrides the centre ground of British politics so self-importantly. For the rest of us, it is a move in the wrong direction. Ever since the Federation of British Industries, the British Employers' Confederation and the National Association of British Manufacturers merged in 1965, the CBI has been the most useless bit of the corporate state. It acts only as a platform for big suits who have been kicked upstairs by the entrepreneurs who are really doing the business.

The CBI has always been split down the middle on Europe, split on exchange rate policy and split between small businesses and multinationals, and as such rarely proposes anything worthwhile. It is a pity that our political leaders see the need to pander to it, instead of appealing directly to the real innovators and risk-takers in whom our economic future lies. Hasten the day when the CBI is treated with the same contempt that is now reserved for the Trades Union Congress.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in