Sir Keir Starmer sought to win over a gathering of Britain’s top bosses on Wednesday, reassuring them of the government’s stability despite being embroiled in a self-made leadership crisis.
A day after disastrous briefings by Downing Street that had been intended to show the prime minister would fight any challenge to his leadership, he pressed on with hosting evening drinks that were designed to offer a dose of comfort to UK plc.
While Britain’s leading bosses did not expressly address the Westminster leadership briefing war, there was a clear message to the government that it had to reduce uncertainty and offer more clarity on its fiscal policy.