Opik burnishes business credentials

The Liberal Democrats have a "perception problem" in the business community, according to Lembit Opik.

The spokesman for business, enterprise and regulatory reform said he hoped to change the impression that the Lib Dems lack influence and produce "tokenist" policies.

In an interview with the FT on Tuesday, Opik confirmed he intends to again run for party president when Simon Hughes' term runs out next year. He stood against Hughes and lost in 2004.

Appealing to the business community, he said: "If they don't like how the Lib Dems have done business before, there's a chance for them to help me put it right."

He said the party's policies in relation to business have "improved a lot in the last five years", but admitted there was a long way to go.

"We have a perception problem in the business community for two reasons," he said.

"Number one, I've heard business people say some of our policies are tokenist to them.

"Number two, I think business hasn't always thought of us as very important in Parliament in terms of relative influence. I'd like to change both of those things."

Opik denied that his appointment showed the party did not take the brief seriously, given his high-profile personal life and well-publicised relationship with a pop star.

He said: "Industry looks at my record in business and what I say in meetings, not who I'm going out with.

"What a grey world it would be if you can't be an interesting person and... do an important job."