While I welcome the publication of the government’s industrial strategy (An industrial strategy ‘for exciting times’, 27 November), I have spotted three major omissions. Second, what is to be the role of employees in delivering the industrial strategy? Third, the new industrial strategy talks of partnership, but the British TUC, globally admired and respected, is nowhere to be seen. If we are to have a serious discussion of the possibilities of a new industrial strategy we need a clear grasp of the history of industrial change. De-industrialisation measured as a falling share of industrial in total employment is now almost universal (including highly successful industrial countries such as Germany and also China), and understanding why this has happened should help make us realistic about what any future industrial strategy can deliver.

Source: The Guardian November 29, 2017 19:18 UTC