DAVID Cameron seems so unsure of his business policies he is drafting in celebrities to give them more clout.

Karren Brady, vice-chairwoman of West Ham United and star of The Apprentice, was unveiled at this week's Tory Party Conference as the Government's small business ambassador.

Her foray into the world of politics follows former denizens of the Dragons' Den; James Caan, who chaired the much-criticised Start Up Loans scheme, and Doug Richard, who undertook an independent review of apprenticeships which became a blueprint for ministers. Queen of shops Mary Portas was drafted in by the PM to give the impression that the Government was doing something for Britain's High Streets, and table sauce magnate Levi Roots has been used to add a dash of spice to the export drive.

What next? Perhaps TV "funny man" Keith Lemmon can be brought in to calm fears that the Funding for Lending Scheme is creating a housing bubble, or the big lad off the Go Compare adverts can become the Government's new debt tsar?

Newspaper business pages are full of real life experts who could give Mr Cameron an insight into the challenges they face every day, but the PM seems to be leafing through a copy of What's On TV to find his business gurus.

Ms Brady's choice as champion of small firms is a strange one.

She won deserved acclaim after she broke into the male-dominated world of football, becoming managing director of Birmingham City at the age of 23 and restoring the ailing Blues to financial health.

Her track record as a powerful figure in the football boardroom is undoubtedly impressive, but she is more of a corporate success story than a person who has made their name by running small firms. Crucially for Mr Cameron, however, she is famous.

She gave her backing to the Coalition, insisting: "It is this government that understands that without small businesses, Britain would not be what it is today."

Mr Cameron would do better tackle the obstacles that are preventing small firms from growing; access to affordable finance, the burden of regulations and high business rates, than appoint a well known face to gloss over the absence of genuine activity.

DARLINGTON last month hosted the first ever national Festival of Thrift to promote what organisers called "a make-do-and-mend lifestyle." 
The event, which received extensive coverage in The Northern Echo, attracted 25,000 cost conscious visitors and could become an annual showcase.

It came as The Financial Times published the latest edition of its monthly recession-denying magazine called How To Spend It.

The helpful 68 page glossy guide gives the well-heeled some useful suggestions as to how best they can dispose of their unwanted cash.
The new issue featured such autumn essentials as a silk scarf for £520, a pair of cufflinks at £3,900 and a cashmere gilet - basically a posh tank top - for a mere £1,064. You'd have thought for that price you'd get a jumper complete with sleeves.

Perhaps we should publish a rival publication called How Not To Spend It to reflect how people in our region are making ends meet.

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