“I am no fan, but the statement that the CBI and NHS should be listened to makes clear sense on this issue.”
Does it? I don’t think so.
Dealing firstly with the NHS, that organisation is one of the most inefficient and badly managed of any large organisation in the UK, possibly in Europe. Its bosses preside over enormous levels of waste, stupendous inefficiency and just plain bad management. Many of its ills relate to this, not lack of funds or difficulties recruiting staff.
The CBI is a very useful organisation. Directors and senior managers are well advised to pay careful attention to its recommendations – and promptly do the exact opposite. They have plenty of form on major issues: they virtually forced the government to join the ill-fated Exchange Rate Mechanism with disastrous results leading to a severe recession. They pleaded with the government to abolish the pound and join the euro, warning that the City would suffer if we did not. We didn’t; the City thrived; the euro nearly went under (causing huge and continuing hardship across much of Europe as the price for its survival). It has been wrong on its views on nationalisation and other State control. Its view on Brexit is that it fears a “cliff edge” departure from the EU, instead favouring a “transition period” which it would hope to become permanent. It is wrong again. A swift and sure exit is required then we can all move on instead of being held in purgatory for an undefined period.