I have listened with growing concern to the growth mantra from Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. We are to have growth, no matter what the cost to our country or to our environment. Airport expansion? No problem. You fired all your workers and rehired lower-paid workers? Very naughty – we’ll pass a law to prevent that, but you can buy us off with some investment and we’ll help you make even more money. Anti-competitive and monopolistic? As long as you promise growth, we’ll ease the way.
Now with sinking heart I hear the tired refrain of slashing regulation (Keir Starmer will promise to slash red tape as he hosts investment summit, 14 October). Yes, regulation can be overdone; yes, it can have unintended consequences. But regulation is created because of a problem, usually a very serious problem that has proved impervious to any voluntary measures. Have we learned nothing from the Grenfell fire or our financial crises?
