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Edwina Currie spices up IIB conference
“You are Margaret Thatcher’s legacy,” declared Edwina Currie to an audience of business owners at the Institute of Independent Business’s “Winning Together” conference in Reading on 14 October 2005.
“Today’s small and medium-sized businesses are run by risk takers - people who aren’t afraid of competition and who when they see a gap in the market, go for it,” she continued. “Margaret Thatcher celebrated her 80th birthday yesterday and many commentators are reviewing the enduring impact she has made on the UK. As I see it, the growth and success of small businesses is one of the key long term legacies of her policies.”
“Twenty years ago, small business owners were risk averse, wary of the government and often bank averse,” she said. “The Thatcher years revolutionised small businesses and the environment in which they could operate. By the end of the 90s, small businesses consisted of experienced skilled workers such as engineers. They were still risk averse and found it hard to grow into big businesses. But today businesses have changed again. They are driven by entrepreneurial risk takers who are innovative and independent. They are now a significant part of the economy and proud to be making a profit.”
Edwina gave a dynamic speech to the conference, demonstrating that she had lost none of her sharp political insight or quick wit. Having had a very successful political career culminating in a cabinet position, she re-invented herself as a raunchy author and lively broadcaster.
Pressed on her views on the current Tory leadership contest, she was unequivocal: “David Cameron is the man for the job. The others are too backward looking. He has the positive forward looking views that the Tories need so badly. I believe he is being unfairly hounded by the media at present about taking drugs in his student days, but I think he must respond. Although he is entitled to privacy, as a public figure, he must express his private views on key issues as well.”
Commenting on ethics and standards in government generally she compared ministers with business leaders: “When a business makes a mistake it admits to the mistake and moves on. Our leaders in government seem unable to admit when they have made a mistake and take responsibility for it. Businesses must set standards in ethics and best practice and show the government how do to it.”
Edwina was talking at the “Winning Together” conference held at Green Park in Reading. Organised by the Institute of Independent Business, the conference also featured a competition in the style of the BBC Dragon’s Den programme and business seminars on a range of topics. The Dragon’s Den Competition will be the focus for a second article about the conference.
Article by
Sue Viney
Viney Communications
0118 934 2093
Photography by
Sue
suepix
0118 947 5857
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