David Parkin on political posturing, suiting yourself and fashion show fumbles
I RECEIVED an invite yesterday to attend the launch of a new report today.
Forget the fact that the invitation came barely 24 hours ahead of the event, which doesn’t suggest great planning.
Or maybe they hoped I wouldn’t go. Well a quick look at the text of the invitation ensured that would happen.
Its for the launch of a new report called ‘Making Local Economies Matter’ by the Smith Institute which has been written by Yorkshire Labour MP John Healey and the launch event in Leeds features his Labour colleagues, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.
Chuck into the mix a debate between the three of them chaired by someone from an organisation called LandAid and I think we may have found a cure for insomnia.
Politicians and policy wonks in the same room is a recipe for verbal indigestion and aural angst.
Apparently the report focuses on “the importance of local economic development to balanced and long-term national economic success”.
“It will review the successes and shortcomings of the regional development agencies, the report analyses the challenges in making Local Enterprise Partnerships fit for purpose. Based on the lessons of sub-national economic development in England over the last 15 years, the report sets out ‘must-do’ reforms to ensure more effective economic policy for the English regions.”
It sounds to me like a combination of navel-gazing and ‘I told you so’ rhetoric which won’t move the regional investment agenda forward by one iota.
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SPARE a thought for Finance Yorkshire investment manager and man about town Andy Chaffer this weekend.
He’ll be tackling the Leeds Half Marathon on Sunday, a challenge in itself, but he’ll be doing it wearing a suit, tie and carrying a brolly.
It started when he decided to run the Abbey Dash 10k last year to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK’s Movember appeal.
“The background to this is that as a professional I get sick of hearing negative news about the professions – whether its bankers, lawyers or accountants there’s always someone having a pop,” says Andy.
Now he takes to the streets of the Yorkshire city to run 13 miles and has even secured a bit of corporate support with clothing firm Rohan sponsoring him to wear one of its washable travel suits, Clarks to wear a pair of their shoes and even UK Steel to carry an umbrella.
This time he’ll be raising money for the fantastic Jane Tomlinson Appeal and he’s even started a LinkedIn group called Suits 4 Charity.
Speaking about his suit-running debut, Andy says: “I was trying to promote the fact that not all ‘suits’ are evil – I had a good laugh with the other runners and the crowd, and I hope I created some interest.
“I’d really like the professional community to get behind other professionals doing some good – I have got an accountant to agree to run the Abbey Dash in a suit too in November – I’d like to get a ‘Professionals Challenge’ going – a race within the race for those running in suits.”
He’s planning to sponsor a trophy for the Abbey Dash race in November and will present it to the professional/team of professionals who run in a suit and tie in the fastest time.
“Whilst it’s a bit of fun, it’s also a serious attempt to get the general public to see that most professionals are also great citizens. Professionals seen to be not taking themselves too seriously whilst raising funds for charities can’t be all bad,” says Andy.
Give him your support by sponsoring him here http://www.justgiving.com/Andy-Chaffer1
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THERE are some things you get linked with that happen every year. A bit like a department store Santa, I now appear to get wheeled out once a year at the Professionals’ Fashion Show Ball.
I normally arrive on the evening as organiser Lisa Revolta is having a meltdown because models haven’t shown up while tantrums kick off between the amateur models back stage.
Last night’s event was true to form, with Lisa trying to get the event back on the straight and narrow while wearing curlers.
She was like a tanned Hilda Ogden with a big dose of charm thrown in.
My contribution is limited but based on a lot of adlibbing of the type you can get away with at a black tie do where accountants, lawyers and bankers are prancing up and down a catwalk.
Which is a lot.
It is amazing how quickly staid advisers can turn into divas when you offer them a new wardrobe and point them in the direction of a catwalk.
Fashion show regular Dave Jones of Reward Capital didn’t make the catwalk this year because of a sporting injury but newcomer Chris Booth, the managing partner of law firm Pinsent Masons in Leeds, appeared to enjoy himself.
He was enthusiastically greeted on the catwalk by a couple of tables of colleagues. I observed that it was clever of him to bring everyone along who was hoping for a promotion at the firm. They do cheer louder.
Roger Hutton of Clarion was his usual loose-limbed self, closely followed by Stephen Griffiths of Rothschilds, on a one-man mission to change the image of the once buttoned-up bank.
There was another award for Big V. Yes Gary Verity picked up the Yorkshire Personality Award, but because of his Tour de France commitments couldn’t make the event.
So his award was collected by Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Tom Murray, who, rather than walking all the way around to the front of the stage and down the long catwalk at the New Dock Hall, decided to drag his chair to the stage so he could climb onto it from the side.
And he offered me a beer later on in the evening. Perhaps I’m a bit too critical of politicians. If they were all like Tom, we’d all be better off.
