Another pre-Budget report, another disappointment for industry. Once again this week's statement from the chancellor suggested that manufacturing does not appear on his radar. In Gordon Brown's parallel rosy universe the UK will avoid a recession. Foot and mouth and the problems of the tourist industry warrant ministerial visits and billions of taxpayers' money. Job losses in manufacturing, or the fact that the sector has been in recession for a considerable number of months, aren't important enough to rate a mention in the chancellor's speech.
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