The Conservatives have traditionally been the party of big business, so this year’s Ipsos MORI Captains of Industry study of FTSE 500 executives has some tough messages. Confidence in the government’s economic policy is at its lowest level since 2010 – which is also the lowest level for a Conservative government since the survey began in the 1970s. As with the public, two thirds of business leaders do not feel confident in the government’s ability to negotiate a good Brexit deal. Companies want reassurances around their key issues: securing a transition period, reducing the level and complexity of regulation and ensuring they can still recruit staff from outside the UK where necessary. In terms of the economy, we go into 2018 with two thirds of…

Source: The Times January 30, 2018 00:02 UTC