Politics or pressure?
Who says that Labour's deputy leadership race changes nothing?
Pressure from a union - the GMB - persuaded several candidates - Hain, Cruddas and Johnson - to express their concerns about an industry - the private equity sector of the City - which has persuaded the Treasury to persuade the industry that it better change its ways or else.
The private equity boys have made millions buying up under performing British companies and, depending on your point of view, turning them round and making them competitive or asset-stripping and job cutting. A fifth of British jobs are in firms that are backed by private equity. The controversy is, in truth, about a handful of big names - the AA, National Car Parks and talk of a takeover of Sainsburys.
The first sign of what was up came when Ed Balls made clear that it was in the industry鈥檚 interests to agree with government on ways to enhance transparency and disclosure. 鈥淢y message to private equity is that coming forward with proposals for greater transparency in the way they operate would be in the interests of their industry and the UK economy more generally,鈥 he said.
Hey presto, the creation of a working party to look at, you guessed it, disclosure.
Politics working as it should, or union pressure forcing the Treasury to shackle one of the most successful parts of the UK economy? You pays your money and you make your choice...
I'm 
Comments
Making a fast return on investment is a no-brainer if you can cut costs in a buoyant economy, and the lead set by Lord Hanson et al in the 1980鈥檚 set the trend for British management up to where we鈥檝e reached today. The problem is what happens when you want to develop new markets or handle a downturn? Most likely you get kicked out or fall out.
In my mind, the unions and treasury are, simply, holding private equity to account. I鈥檓 not persuaded the working party amounts to more than a row of beans until I see real jobs creation, better pay and conditions, and a more long-term and loyal approach. A talking shop is fine to a point but the only thing that matters is if private equity deliver.
People say that individuals and companies will jump ship if they鈥檙e gripped too tightly but history and other cultures show this to be a paper tiger. Additionally, by levelling up those at the bottom with better training, pay, and greater security of tenure, the quality of potential management increases, raising capability and lowering top end pay.
By developing the 鈥榠nvest in loss鈥 approach to business and communities, the twin track of cutting back on waste or crime, but prioritising better leadership and relations, will help reduce anxiety and develop confidence to a higher level. This simple, clear, and powerful approach is sound and will help underpin the family, so I expect all three parties to get behind this.
A big problem with Britain has been its historical war between rich and poor, different political parties, and businesses and unions, and like any war it has been a wasteful diversion. By sidestepping fear and greed, and developing a positive consensus along these lines, success in both economic and social terms is inevitable.
Don鈥檛 believe me? Tell that to Japan.
Making a fast return on investment is a no-brainer if you can cut costs in a buoyant economy, and the lead set by Lord Hanson et al in the 1980鈥檚 set the trend for British management up to where we鈥檝e reached today. The problem is what happens when you want to develop new markets or handle a downturn? Most likely you get kicked out or fall out.
In my mind, the unions and treasury are, simply, holding private equity to account. I鈥檓 not persuaded the working party amounts to more than a row of beans until I see real jobs creation, better pay and conditions, and a more long-term and loyal approach. A talking shop is fine to a point but the only thing that matters is if private equity deliver.
People say that individuals and companies will jump ship if they鈥檙e gripped too tightly but history and other cultures show this to be a paper tiger. Additionally, by levelling up those at the bottom with better training, pay, and greater security of tenure, the quality of potential management increases, raising capability and lowering top end pay.
By developing the 鈥榠nvest in loss鈥 approach to business and communities, the twin track of cutting back on waste or crime, but prioritising better leadership and relations, will help reduce anxiety and develop confidence to a higher level. This simple, clear, and powerful approach is sound and will help underpin the family, so I expect all three parties to get behind this.
A big problem with Britain has been its historical war between rich and poor, different political parties, and businesses and unions, and like any war it has been a wasteful diversion. By sidestepping fear and greed, and developing a positive consensus along these lines, success in both economic and social terms is inevitable.
Don鈥檛 believe me? Tell that to Japan.
With all this talk about who's going to be the deputy leader, whilst Gordon Brown makes his inevitable ascension to Prime Minister, why is nobody asking a far more important question?
Who is going to be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer?
With all this talk about who's going to be the deputy leader, whilst Gordon Brown makes his inevitable ascension to Prime Minister, why is nobody asking a far more important question?
Who is going to be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer?
My, my. This Government actually being influenced by outside pressure. I must have woken up in a parallel universe this a.m..
Which way is up on this world and is there honeyed words still from T.B?
Why is are any of these measures good ? They are different, but if they help to move Britain's financial industry / private equity companies else where its hard to see how good has been served.
You need to make money before you can spend it.
Nick - since when was the government the expert on transparency and disclosure..?
Dear Nick,
" Keep Trident we need it, "
This is Britains best launch site for the next General Election, when all the Labour Party should be loaded on board and trident used as a multi dustbin re-entry diposable party system, after dropping its payload in deep outer space,IT would return to Earth,as they have not been on this planet for years.