I was very disappointed with the speech from Mr Miliband earlier this week as it showed a complete lack of understanding of how business works. The very notion of separating out good companies for what he calls bad companies, in terms of their investment returns and speed of returns, is just nonsense and just sends out a message that he is not supportive of a very active business community.

It should be the investors and customers that decide whether they do or don’t like what a company is doing, it is not the governments’ role to get involved with that. Miliband is sending the wrong message, particularly to the private equity world, which plays a particularly active part of stimulating improved performance. This is what we need if we are going to create the jobs to compete in the world.

It is disappointing that Labour seems to be swinging back to that old anti business attitude, it is totally inappropriate. We want, and the economy needs, a government that is more business orientated.