Cameron must quash industrial apartheid

David Cameron and most of his cabinet are experts in PPE. The trouble for us is that's politics, philosophy and economics, rather than ear defenders and hi-vis jackets. Not a single engineer and only one scientist (Vince Cable) makes it into Cameron's top team, which is brimming with MPs who studied history, economics or law. The imbalance – albeit unconsciously – seeps through into political decision making. Twenty two ferocious intellects around the cabinet table, but all isomers of the same one thing: a monochrome hybrid, wired to think and act alike. Nowhere are the flaws more apparent than in the much-vaunted industrial strategy. On its launch, one year ago, we dreamed that this strategy would mark a sea change in government thinking. The dawn of a lionhearted new era: ministers and industrialists hunting in the same pride. Tearing down skills shortages, finance frustrations and missed export opportunities to feed our insatiable joint appetite for manufacturing growth. However, on second look, what we took for a lion was in fact a meekly mewing pussy cat. The industrial strategy has been bitterly disappointing so far, spawning eleven obscure sub strategies covering everything from offshore wind to international education. Only aerospace and automotive fly the flag for manufacturing. Presumably the Keynesian algorithm from the economics degree didn't include the millions of pounds in value add from British sites making everything from mattresses to tea bags who feature in this year's Best Factory shortlist. It's absolutely fantastic to hear Mr Cameron so enthusiastic about engineering. But for us to truly rebalance UK plc, the PM must ditch this industrial apartheid – the insidious idea that only a UK manufacturer making something high tech is worthy of full government attention. Our Best Factory finalists, once again, show that it's prowess with processes, business strategy and people that truly earn the title 'advanced' manufacturer. It's a fact that would no doubt have been pointed out to Mr Cameron, had there been someone of engineering descent sitting in on the cabinet meetings these past three years.