Lazy BBC-types sometimes talk about whether a particular politician or political party is "pro-business". What this means is not always clear.
Being "pro-business" is not necessarily the same as favouring free market enterprise. Indeed, some big businesses are distinctly hostile to open competition.
I wonder if the biggest obstacles to free market competition today come not from bolshie trade unionists, or socialists firebrands, but from the corporate boardroom.
Corporatism - the alliance of big business with big government - is "pro-business" in the sense that it suits certain businessmen. However, it is very often the antithesis of free market.
Here are some examples of what happens when big business and big government team up:
- Household utility bills go up to fund some of the de facto subsidies that have paid for the massive increase in wind turbines.
- EU regulation is introduced in a way that creates barriers to entry in certain markets – thereby suiting the interests of some established players.
- Defence contracts see squillions of public money transferred onto the balance sheets of certain suppliers – yet somehow our armed forces don't get the kit they need.
The Conservatives must be staunchly pro-business – yet in the best sense of the term. We must favour enterprise and open markets. We must not favour grubby, lobby-for-favours, corporatism.
