Sections
Magazine
Latest Issue

The future of the UK seems perpetually in peril. As Andrew Marr argues in this month’s cover story, nothing is inevitable about Scotland’s breakaway, but London’s complacence is making it more likely. Also in this issue: Jill Rutter explores how we’re coping outside the single market, Eliane Glaser has been horrified by the education jargon being foisted on her children during her time homeschooling, and Miranda France gives her verdict on the new Kazuo Ishiguro.

Read Now Or Checkout the archive
Previous
March 2021
January/February 2021
December 2020
November 2020
Events
Next Event

Watch: How do we stop a generation from sleepwalking into retirement?

Previous
Homes for all: what new social and affordable housing can do for Britain
Watch: The 2020 Think Tank Awards Ceremony
Watch: What next for pensions? Why the 2020s are the crunch decade
To the archive
Podcast
Latest Episode

The Prospect Interview #169: Andrew Marr on break-up Britain

Previous
The Prospect Interview #168: Karachi Vice, with Samira Shackle
The Prospect Interview #167: We are Bellingcat, with Eliot Higgins
The Prospect Interview #166: The unofficial Covid-19 inquiry
To the archive
Magazine Regulars Business and finance Industry Trade Barriers

Digest

Howard Davies, the former director-general of the CBI, recently delivered a series of broadcasts on the state of British business. This is an edited version of his final talk, on links between government and industry

By Howard Davies  
November 20, 1995
November 1995

BBC

October 6th 1995

In my first week at the Confederation of British industry (CBI), in June 1992, I received a personal letter from the then chancellor of the exchequer, Norman Lamont, still in all his ERM glory. How nice, I thought. I have finally arrived. At last I am a fully paid up member of the great and the good.

But when I read the letter I was not so sure. Because the message was that Mr Lamont did not want to see me-ever. Well, not quite. The point he made was that the government proposed-which means…

Register today to continue reading

You’ve hit your limit of three articles in the last 30 days. To get seven more, simply enter your email address below.

You’ll also receive our free e-book Prospect’s Top Thinkers 2020 and our newsletter with the best new writing on politics, economics, literature and the arts.

Prospect may process your personal information for our legitimate business purposes, to provide you with newsletters, subscription offers and other relevant information.

Click here to learn more about these purposes and how we use your data. You will be able to opt-out of further contact on the next page and in all our communications.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to letters@prospect-magazine.co.uk

Howard Davies

Howard Davies is director of the LSE

More stories by Howard Davies

More From Prospect