The Return of Industrial Strategy

Industrial strategy cover

In the emerging post-Covid and post-Brexit world, there will be a need for a clear sense of direction from government to address longstanding economic problems such as low productivity growth, a dearth of investment, skill shortages and short-termism in capital markets, as well as the new challenges of Covid-related debt, life outside the EU and climate change.

Industrial strategy, based on active government intervention, is not a new idea but had come to be seen as unfashionable and anti-market. In his RADIX Pamphlet, The Return of Industrial Strategy, the former Business Secretary will argue that it is time for a new Industrial Strategy based on more than manufacturing but also services and data based technologies. Sir Vince makes the case for an ‘entrepreneurial state’ and argues that the
Covid pandemic has created a sense that government, business, the workforce and the research community are much more effective as a cooperating whole than as the sum of their parts. He goes on to set out a new ten point Industrial Strategy plan for the UK, building on his own period in government.

Sir Vince will discuss his proposals with Associate Editor of The Times and Conservative Peer, Lord Finkelstein OBE. A member of the inner circle of more than one Conservative leader, Danny Finkelstein is nevertheless an independently minded and much-admired columnist, who will help us to understand and challenge Sir Vince’s proposals

Panelists
  • Vince Cable

    Panelist

    The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable

    Formerly Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, President of the Board of Trade, leader of the Liberal Democrats and Member of Parliament for the Twickenham constituency. He was also a former Chief Economist at Royal Dutch Shell having read economics at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and obtained his PhD at the University of Glasgow. His publications include Open Arms (2017), After the Storm: The World Economy and Britain’s Economic Future (2016), Free Radical, A Memoir (2010), among others. Vince is currently a professor in practice at the London School of Economics, and visiting professor at Nottingham University and St Mary University.

  • Panelist

    Lord Finkelstein OBE

    Successfully combining a career as a journalist and politician, Finkelstein started his career in the same party as Cable, as an adviser to SDP leader, Lord Owen. After merger with the Liberals, he became Director of the Social Market Foundation and joined the Conservative Party, becoming Director of the Conservative Research Department under John Major. In 2001 he joined the Times, become Chief Leader Writer seven years later. He continued to act as close adviser to Conservative party leaders and Prime Ministers and worked particularly closely with George Osborne in the run up to and during the Coalition Government of which Cable was also a part.

  • Panelist

    Lord Mandelson

    Lord Mandelson is Chairman of strategic advisory firm Global Counsel. He is a former European Trade Commissioner and First Secretary of State. Prior to this, he held a number of Cabinet posts under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown including Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Northern Ireland Secretary and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He was Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 until 2004 and Director of Campaigns and Communications for the Labour Party between 1985 and 1990. As well as Chairman of Global Counsel, Lord Mandelson is President of the Great Britain China Centre, Chairman of the Design Museum in London and Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University

Where

Online Event

When

Thursday 17th December 2020, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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