Bill Midgley column

Oct 26 2005 By Bill Midgley, The Journal

Having now completed attendance at all four of the Autumn Conferences - that is the three main political parties and the TUC - it is perhaps inevitable a comparison is made of how they all operate, and the conclusions that may be drawn.

It is not my role to make political comments on what was said - or perhaps on occasions not said - at the conferences, but more to reflect on the role that the business community may have at these conferences.

Perhaps the strongest impression I had was that these were incestuous occasions, with delegates such as myself (or should that be observer?) being allowed to watch the real participants in their work; notwithstanding the fact that apart from the TUC there was a not inconsiderable fee to pay for attendance.

All parties seemed to be inward looking to the extent that they ignored their much wider audience.

And the "club" atmosphere that prevailed left me with the impression that the rest of the world doesn't really have much to offer in their activities. Too much back-slapping, self congratulation and indulgence.

The three political parties hold business days which demonstrate to business how concerned they are about the problems of business, and that they are prepared to talk to the business community about what is required to make commerce and industry successful.

Undoubtedly, there were some who listened, but there is still a great deal of talking at and telling the business community what is good for them, rather than listening to what the business community has to say.

It's almost as though there is a going through the motions exercise of paying lip service to that community which ultimately will generate the wealth for any political party, rather than a real understanding of what is needed to ensure a sound base for the future growth of our companies.

Perhaps, and somewhat depressingly, this is down to the fact that fewer and fewer politicians have ever been involved at the sharp end of business.

So many have gone from university to political adviser to Parliament that they know so little and will never understand how to build that so important platform that will make not only our businesses but our subsequent economy somewhat stronger.

Conferences may be about expressing the opinions and the formulation of policy for each of the political factions, but in the long term it also has to be about listening. These policies can never be self-serving, but must reflect the wider community.

The business community may not always be right, and to listen to some it is rarely right.

But from time to time we do have solutions to problems, we can contribute, but ultimately we cannot be sidelined as we have to deliver what any Government really needs - and that is an increasing wealth and standard of living.