With a predictably fragile economic recovery, Labour 5%-10% ahead in the polls and a growing public doubt about whether we can have both public sector deficit reduction AND economic growth, George Osborne’s mid term budget in 40 days is critically important. Given the fiasco of last year it is vital that we send a strong signal to boost confidence - in the markets and the electorate – that we are determined to both restrain public sector spending and unleash a private sector recovery – and that the two can feed off each other. [read more]

‘Every problem is an opportunity’ is an expression beloved of entrepreneurs. Creating value by spotting the opportunity in a problem is what entrepreneurs do. There’s nothing entrepreneurs like more than big established businesses failing to innovate fast enough and failing their customers. As Britain seeks to tackle this historic crisis of debt and structural deficits driven by Big Government, damaged banks and uncompetitive and unreformed public services, we badly need to unleash the entrepreneurial mindset. We can’t borrow our way out of the debt crisis. [read more]

Sustainable growth of the UK economy needs to be driven by trade, by the UK producing and selling the goods and services the rest of the world needs. Unlocking the huge potential of the life science sector is, I believe, the key to bringing this economic growth about. But more than this, through increased support for research into innovative medical technologies and discoveries, from bench to bedside, we can create an entrepreneurial revolution that drives towards making the NHS a first class healthcare system that leads the world in medical innovation. [read more]

"You do not necessarily become a scientist to boost GDP – even though it is a very welcome consequence of much of what you do", quipped the Chancellor George Osborne in his speech at the Royal Society last Friday. [read more]