Hot on the heels of his very open criticism of Brown’s decision to penalise non-doms, Digby Jones has dealt another lethal blow to Downing Street with rumours he’s on the verge of quitting.
The prime minister’s announcement of a new business council for Britain earlier this year was met with a surge of criticism from the small business community.
The likes of Branson and Sugar posed for their photos outside Number 10, in what was supposed to issue in a new era of business support at the heart of government, but where was the small business representation?
But, we were assured, Brown had business on the brain and his quest to find the best additions to his cabinet meant forgoing partisan politics. The appointment of Sir Digby Jones, former CBI chief, as a Labour peer and Trade Minister, was at the time said to be a major coup against the Conservatives.
How very impartial of our beloved Gordon. And wasn’t it just what we needed? A real business representative at the heart of government, actually influencing the PM.
However, with news this week Jones reportedly told a room full of business leaders he intends to stand down before the next election to avoid supporting Brown, it all seems to have backfired for Number 10’s latest tenant.
Although Jones issued a statement in response insisting Brown has his full support he’s not denying he’ll be long gone before we next visit polling stations, which predictably, the Tories have jumped on, declaring Jones at ‘the head of a long queue’ of anti-Brownites.
While business owners sit though the insults and the accusations flying back and forth between all those involved, it begs the question, who’s looking after Britain’s Trade interest now?
With this latest open vote of no-confidence in the current administration, Jones is hardly likely to be given the ear of the PM now is he? So what are we left with? A lame-duck Trade Minister biding his time until he can resign.
