PM sets up business advisory council
The prime minister has unveiled a business advisory council to offer him and senior ministers advice and present the concerns of key sectors of the business community.
The bosses of Google, Sainsbury's and BAE Systems are to join the new advisory group to provide "high-level advice on critical business and economic issues facing the country".
David Cameron will serve as chairman of the council, which will meet once every three months and will be attended by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Vince Cable.
The two women serving on the committee are chief executive of Burberry, Angela Ahrendts and the head of Incisive Media and the Port of London Authority, Helen Alexander.
The prime minister also confirmed that the Business Council for Britain will be disbanded, which caused controversy before the election when the panel said it was happy to serve under a Conservative government.
Cameron said: "The deputy prime minister and I want to make sure the government is getting really good high-level advice from some of Britain's leading businessmen and women.
"Having an advisory group with a range of experience and expertise should ensure that there is real interaction and discussion."
Meanwhile an ICM poll for the Guardian puts Labour in the lead over the Conservatives for the first time in three years as Ed Miliband ends his first week as party leader.
It puts Labour on 37 per cent, while the Conservatives have dropped two points and are now on 35 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are on 18 per cent.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.