Tough times ahead, warns Ken Clarke MP

Ken Clarke, Rushcliffe MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, was in Nottingham recently to address an audience of business leaders from across the East Midlands.

The former Chancellor of the Exchequer was the guest speaker at an Entrepreneurs’ Dinner, organised by business advisory firm Deloitte, at Harts restaurant.

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Bootle: Green shoots still some way off

Roger Bootle, economic adviser to Deloitte, said there was more bad news around the corner for the UK economy, at a dinner hosted by Deloitte’s Birmingham office.

Mr Bootle, who is also managing director of Capital Economics, said any green shoots in evidence at the moment could be giving people false hope.

“I think there are some green shoots coming through but they don’t amount to very much,” he said.

“What has happened is the speed of deterioration has slackened and some signs of an upturn have made people more cheerful but I think there is more bad news around the corner.

“I’m sceptical that next year will show much of an improvement. In fact, I think things could get worse but by the end of the following year we may start to see signs of a recovery.”