And so somehow, in this through-the-looking-glass world we live in, we’ve ended up electing a CONSERVATIVE leader and future Prime Minister who once declared “**** business”.
Boris Johnson was named Tory leader this lunchtime. That means he should become PM tomorrow, Parliamentary shenanigans notwithstanding.
His in-tray - Mr Johnson strikes me as a man who would have an in-tray as well as an inbox - will be bulging. From Iran to HS2 and Heathrow and our austerity-hit public services, he’ll have a lot of things to worry about.
But everything in British politics right now is overshadowed by Brexit. And that is leaving business leaders frustrated and angry.
This Friday I’ll be hosting the Economic Business Breakfast for Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce, as I do every quarter.
Boris Johnson - business reacts
And I fully expect to hear yet again that the uncertainty over Brexit is hurting businesses and stopping them from investing and from creating the jobs that Britain needs.
Yes, Mr Johnson’s “**** business” line was a throwaway, and his supporters say he was referring to particular campaigners and not to business as a whole.
But the fact that it has stuck, and that people do remember it, should trouble the incoming PM.
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It has left many businesses worried. Take Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. He told BusinessLive today : “I’m worried he said ‘**** business’, what did he mean by that? How is he going to help businesses? We want a different attitude.”
There's no time for blustering buffoonery. Businesses are fed up of that, from Mr Johnson and from everyone else.
They're fed up of uncertainty. They're fed up of waiting. They’re fed up of not being able to plan or invest.
They’re fed up with their interests seemingly being ignored by the Conservative Party, which still claims to be the party of business.
So once Mr Johnson is in Number 10, let’s hope he stops the brinksmanship and cracks on with finding a solution to the Brexit mess.
And then he needs to look beyond the South East bubble to grow the whole 海角视频 economy. He should commit to backing the South West, the Midlands, the Northern Powerhouse, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. He should commit to developing the 海角视频’s infrastructure, from HS2 to the other local rail improvements that are so badly needed. He should commit to investing in our public services that are so stretched.
On Brexit, and on everything else, Mr Johnson needs to start getting things done.
Because once business leaders start and saying “f*** Boris”, his premiership will be over before it’s even started.