HOW DO YOU RATE THE COALITION’S FIRST 100 DAYS IN POWER?
DR PATRICK NOLAN | REFORM
Its goal of a smaller government and stronger society is right but many of its policies go in exactly the other direction. Governments need to take the tough decisions straight away when their political capital is at its highest. That means looking again at the big spending areas of health and welfare.
DAVID FROST | BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Early action on deficit reduction and burdensome employment regulation has been strongly welcomed. However, business wants to see more progress in areas such as international trade and reform of the UK’s planning system. We have not yet seen the appointment of a dedicated trade minister.
RICHARD?LAMBERT | CBI
Business has been impressed by the speed and direction of policy-making to date. This applies in particular to the government’s determined efforts to get the public finances back into shape. June’s Budget was seen as bold and audacious – and it needed to be.
MILES?TEMPLEMAN | INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS
We are delighted that the coalition has achieved two key early objectives – an ambitious deficit reduction plan and a bill facilitating more school competition. However, we are concerned that the government has yet to show a similar enthusiasm for grappling with the problem of over-regulation.