Does anyone else feel that it’s significant, maybe worrying, that the last five UK Prime Ministers have lasted at best just over three years, and at worst only forty-nine days, an average of almost exactly two years each?

For business and industry, longer-term stability that drives economic conditions they can confidently plan for is usually top of the wish list, so any shortening of the political cycle can be seen as a potential for instability.

The relevance of this is that as this goes to press, Andy Burnham should be entering Number 10 as the UK Prime Minister, and whilst the caution for what may change remains, for some policies the opportunity for a change of course might be warmly welcomed.

Energy sector launches campaign urging new Prime Minister to back domestic drilling

There are a good number of decisions waiting for his direction as he takes office, many of which can have a direct impact on industry, and one that Scotland’s engineering sector will be watching closely is whether he supports North Sea oil and gas in the form of giving the go-ahead to Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields – and beyond.

It’s been a focus since a recent visit to Aberdeen where amongst the chance to meet with member companies, I also had a highly enlightening follow-up chat with Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. He had been recommended to me as a well-respected and recognised industry voice who is........

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