Business leader combed Sunak’s speech for an economic shot in the arm. They searched in vain

Firms were looking to Rishi Sunak to show signs that the government was going to lift Britain out of its economic torpor. But, as Chris Blackhurst reports, all they got were platitudes, slogans and empty rhetoric

Prime minister Rishi Sunak delivers his keynote speech at the Conservative Party annual conference (PA Wire)

Soon after Rishi Sunak’s conference speech, I was at a City heavy-hitter’s house in London. He was having what by his standards was a small gathering of about 50 people. Present were several captains of industry.

As the waiters topped up glasses of fine wine and handed round the canapes, conversations turned to the prime minister and his address. Chatham House rules forbid me to name names. Suffice to say, none of those present were impressed.

These were senior business folks, and what they were looking for was evidence of joined-up thinking on the economy, signs that Sunak and his colleagues were determined to lift Britain out of its current state of torpor. They said they had searched in vain.