So we’re into another leadership election for the Conservative Party and those working in business will be wondering what might be in store.
Unfortunately, none of the eight candidates (like the universe they keep expanding in number so there might be more since I wrote this) have said much beyond the usual stodge. However, it’s still early days and the B word of course continues to dominate every discourse.
I have taken the liberty of jotting down a wish list of what it might be nice to hear from one or two of the candidates over the next few weeks.
First of all, where Britain is going. Not in two years time; but in five, ten and thirty years. I mean a vision. Do any of the candidates actually have one beyond a sound bite.
Interesting reflections from our candidates could involve elaborations on what is the point of Britain today, and what should the country’s focus be in the world.
From a business perspective, it would be interesting for some of the candidates to imagine what infrastructure we might need as an economy and society. What are our current strengths and how can we position ourselves to take advantage of the future.
Into the granular, it will be interesting to hear the candidates contemplate how are cities will deal with growing populations. Will they consider the need for re-planning to accommodate driverless cars? Perhaps they might muse as to whether we should be getting ahead of the world and investing more in the roadside infrastructure for electric vehicles. Shouldn’t our politicians start to be conceiving a new planning regime for air rights as we aspire to lift some of our logistical movement off the ground through drones.
Secondly, the candidates could perhaps talk beyond the world of low taxes and what to cut. Is the slashing of the aid budget really a big vote winner? What about their thoughts on productivity. The country is jobs rich but time and productivity poor.
There is a prevailing sense that capitalism is failing, a view held strongly by the under thirties. Perhaps one or two of the candidates could think a bit about this and ask questions like: is it really the case that the only benchmark of success is GDP growth? Could we be challenging this rather crude indicator. When does growth stop being good?
Those that might get this far then might even take their vision and link it to the bones of a strategy. They might think about a strategy which could determine the kind of skills our population will need in the future and the kind of areas we should be focusing on teaching in the classroom and in the work place.
For instance, someone with insight might think about the housing crisis. They might muse that the country could become a center for global excellence in modular housing manufacturing and export our knowledge and skills to the world.
Debate and some substance on productivity, mental well-being and good growth would certainly be a change of tack. A far cry from the usual diet of low taxes and cutting stuff.
Indeed in a different world, one of the candidates might even concede that polarisation between left and right should be left in the 20th century. They might question the role of ideology in an advanced economy and society. They could go further and challenge establishment thinking that every time we have a new government it automatically requires a reorganization of the state. They might even venture that in future every policy will need to go through rigorous scientific based testing before being launched into the outside world.
Whether it’s the Brexit debate or the Conservative Party leadership, the majority of our politicians define themselves by what they are against, not what they are for. It is without doubt the easiest way to attempt to connect with the electorate.
Unfortunately, when the center begins to fail, the art of being against becomes the domain of the fringes. Which means no matter how much this set of candidates attempts to champion causes, it all sounds rather hollow when compared to the tub thumping from the likes of Mr Farage and co. So my plea is to ditch the dog whistle and start thinking about what the country and economy needs for its long term health. That might actually turn heads.
