On 9th May 2012 I went to an economic debate arranged by “Insider Wales”, who provide news on business in Wales.
I asked, “Do you think the private sector [in North Wales] can provide enough jobs to make up for the cuts in public sector empl;oyment?”
Panel responses were illuminating.
- Institute of Directors North Wales Chair: “Of course not! And why would you want them anyway? They were from the public sector, would you really want people like that in your organisation?”
- Deeside Enterprise Zone Interim Board Chair: “No, that was just wishful thinking, it was never really possible.”
- Watkin Jones Group Managing Director: “No. In the private sector we believe we can do the work with fewer people, so of course not.”
- CBI Noth Wales Chair: “No, but There Is No Alternative [remember Thatcher’s TINA mantra?]. But if we improve the business environment there may be more jobs.”
It would be a funny old world if anyone actually swallowed that line in the first place!