The Liberal Democrats were right to place the future of the economy at the forefront of its general election manifesto, but included policies that would discourage investment, according to business leaders.
Food and drink manufacturers will find points to praise and areas of disappointment in the chancellor George Osborne’s summer Budget – which he lauded as “a new contract with the nation”, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).
Food industry leaders – including George Weston, ceo of Associated British Foods, which owns the Silver Spoon, Kingsmill and Ovaltine brands – have joined more than 100 business bosses in writing a letter of support for the coalition’s economic policy.
Yesterday's emergency budget should prove "reasonably neutral" for food manufacturers, and potentially beneficial for exporters, according to City analysts and trade associations.
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