Aims of Industry
Aims of Industry was founded in 1942 as an independent free enterprise corporate lobby group by business leaders in industry. It came into existence to combat nationalisation of key British industries such as sugar, iron and steel. It campaigned against the creation of the National Health Service in 1945. It was known as Aims for Freedom and Enterprise from 1975-78 and Aims from 1978-80.
Although not directly involved in party politics, Aims of Industry is closely linked to the Conservative Party and the Freedom Association.
It makes an annual "National Free Enterprise Award", recipients of which have included F.A. Hayek, Margaret Thatcher and John Blundell.
Aims' Objectives
According to the history of Aims published by the organisation in 1972 there objectives were:
- To defend free enterprise and freedom
- To create a public belief in free enterprise so that the government can take the right decisions and companies can achieve their objectives.
- To oppose, and wherever possible reduce, unnecessary government intervention by state ownership, control or excessive bureaucracy.[1]
Personnel
- Lord Michael Forsyth of Drumlean, president (former Conservative Secretary of State for Scotland, 1995-97)
- Sir Nigel Mobbs, Chairman
- Mike Fisher, Trustee
Its former Director and Consultant was Michael Ivens (Joint Founder and Vice-President, Freedom Association, 1975-2001). Aims of Industry claims 800 members, with six full-time members of staff.
Funding
Past funders are thought to have included Balfour Beatty [2] and Slough Estates [3]. British American Tobacco supported Aims from 1949 until 1991 [4], [5].
Related
References
- Aims of Industry profile, Britain in Europe website, accessed January 2004
- Balfour Beatty profile, Corporate Watch, Winter 1996
- Tories' business backers: are they ethical?, Friends of the Earth press release, 4 June 2001
- Chris Marsden, "British mercenaries planned assassination of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan", Sunday Times, 24 August 1999.
- Obituary: 'Michael Ivens: Champion of the libertarian right and business freedom', Roger Cowe, Wednesday November 21, 2001 The Guardian [6]
- ^ Aims of Industry 30 years of Aims of Industry London: Aims of Industry 1972. ISBN: 090003565X
