UK: Bosses 'nervous' over Brown regime policies

Many company directors are nervous about what policies British chancellor Gordon Brown will introduce when, as expected, he takes over as prime minister, a business leader said today.

Miles Templeman, director general of the Institute of Directors (IOD), said it was important that Mr Brown did not “interfere” in business.

Speaking at the IOD’s annual convention in London, Mr Templeman agreed that politics was currently in a state of limbo as the country waited for Tony Blair to resign.

“It needs to be resolved. If Gordon Brown is going to take over, let us get on with it. We are keen to move forward and we want to make sure he understands the business agenda.

“He does have an understanding of competitiveness, but he has to work harder at winning the trust of the business community.

“A lot of our members are nervous about what he will do.”

Mr Templeman said waiting for Mr Blair’s successor was “no big deal” as long as there was not going to be a whole raft of new policies.

He said the IOD will be setting out a shopping list of things they wanted to see from the new Prime Minister.

He added that virtually every challenge Mr Blair’s successor will face will require a business-led solution.

“Whether it’s climate change or the training deficit or the pensions crisis, the answers will come from innovative, go-ahead companies.

“And let us be clear – business success is fundamental to UK success. When our companies are winning it doesn’t mean someone else is losing.”