CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves tried to tone down the doom and gloom in her party conference speech in Liverpool yesterday.

Last week figures showed consumer confidence had slumped following her warnings of “tough choices” in the looming Budget.

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And firms have put hiring and investment on ice until they get more Government clarity.

So were these British business chiefs convinced by her attempt to be more upbeat about the future?

RICHARD WALKER

Exec chairman, Iceland supermarket

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“I THINK the rhetoric so far has been quite downbeat, so it is important to sell an optimistic, bold vision.

Labour is in a tight spot of being squeezed on the left and the right of the part.

 But they do need to give a sense of ambition and it’s good they did that.

The industrial strategy is important because we absolutely need a joined-up, well-thought-out strategy, almost like Harold Wilson’s “white heat of technology” speech 60 years ago.

We need something we can sell and get behind to be confident and ambitious about.

An industrial strategy shouldn’t just focus on the big shiny stuff, it should focus on the politics of ordinary life, be that the buses, high street or connectivity, things that are essential to the everyday. Investment is critically needed.

It was encouraging that the Chancellor came back to business rates a few times in quite clear language that the system is broken and needs reform.

Now it needs to move to reality to protect the high street and jobs.”

MIKE RAYBOULD

CEO, Portmeirion homeware

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“IF Reeves and the Government are serious about ‘building Britain together’, they need to value manufacturing and the jobs and communities it supports.

Government must play a critical support role for firms by creating a low-tax, high-investment economy.”

ROWAN CROZIER

CEO, Brandauer metal-stamping

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“AN industrial strategy is long overdue. The Chancellor’s focus on it is a welcome first step ­forward.

The country is seeing severe constipation over investment decisions due to the current ­negativity the Government is pushing and the uncertainty this creates.”

STEVE HARE

CEO, FTSE 100 tech firm Sage

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“THIS honest speech highlights that growth is the challenge and investment is the solution.

A focus on digitisation and technology investment is essential — e-invoicing is a prime example.

We have to break out of the current cycle of negative sentiment.”

PAUL THWAITE

CEO, NatWest Group bank

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“OUR Chancellor is right when she says investment is the key to boosting UK growth.

These ambitions require the contribution of every part of Britain. There is so much potential in the UK.

I am optimistic we will succeed and grow together.”

ROMI SAVOVA

CEO, pension provider PensionBee

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“MESSAGES encouraging growth are welcome, especially in tech and science.

My industry is holding its breath for initiatives to use money in pension funds to unleash investment.

Details of the Budget cannot come soon enough to quell savers’ nerves.”

NEIL STEVENS

CEO, fintech firm Fintel

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“LABOUR’S manifesto promised hope and since then we had got the opposite so yesterday was a welcome shift.

London’s junior stock market has to be supported, either by encouraging pension funds to invest more or to give more incentives to invest.”

NIMISHA RAJA MBE

Founder, Nim’s fruit & veg crisps

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“REEVES has been complaining about the ‘black hole’ in the economy. The first rule of business… work with the cards you are dealt.

The Industrial Strategy is important but it must not overlook the needs of small business.”

JOHN ROBERTS

CEO, electrical retailer AO World

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“WHAT we really need is to stop the waste and not just keep raising taxes.

Creating the right reward-for-risk ratio is critical to inspire investment.

There are lots of warm words but very little that I’ve seen in the way of an actual plan to make it happen.”

OZ FIRM’S MOVE No3

RIGHTMOVE will “carefully consider” a £6.1billion takeover approach from Australia’s REA Group after rejecting two previous offers.

The sweetened price of 770p-a-share is a 39 per cent premium to the property site’s share price before the takeover approach was made public.

REA Group is majority-owned by News Corp, which is the ­ultimate owner of The Sun. Its chief executive Owen Wilson said: “We are genuinely disappointed at the lack of engagement by Rightmove’s board.”

Rightmove shares edged up by just 0.77 per cent to 679.6p.

TRAINING AID BY BT

BT is setting up a £4million fund to help small firms and charities launch up to 550 apprenticeships.

The telecom giant is using £4million of its own unspent apprenticeship levy to team up with apprentice-provider Babington over four years.

It is the latest big company to come up with its own answer to the Government’s apprenticeship levy, which requires bigger firms to set aside 0.5 per cent of annual payroll. But firms argue the schemes are too narrow and as a result £2.2billion in unspent funding has gone back to the Treasury since the levy began.

DUNELMCASH-IN

DUNELM’S deputy chairman has cashed in on the home retailer’s recent growth and sold £123million of shares.

Will Adderley, whose parents founded the firm, last night sold 10million shares, which is equivalent to 4.9 per cent of the entire company.

Mr Adderley still owns around a third of the business and said he remained “fully committed” to it.

Dunelm has shot up to a valuation of £2.5billion, shrugging off a tough market. Its success came after profits at the start of the month turned out to be better than expected.

The union representing thousands of striking Boeing workers says a survey of its members shows they are “not interested” in the aviation giant’s latest pay offer.

“Many comments expressed that the offer was inadequate,” the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) said in a post on X.

It comes after Boeing made a new offer earlier this week to striking workers, which proposed a 30% pay rise over four years.

BBC News has requested a statement from Boeing in response to the IAM announcement.

“The survey results from yesterday were overwhelmingly clear, almost as loud as the first offer: members are not interested in the company’s latest offer that was sent through the media,” the IAM post said.

On Monday, Boeing made what it called its “best and final” pay offer, which included the reinstatement of a performance bonus, improved retirement benefits and a doubling of the value of a one-off bonus for signing a new pay deal to $6,000 (£4,470).

The company said the offer was dependent on it being ratified by union members by midnight pacific time on Friday 27 September (7:00 GMT on Saturday 28 September).

However, IAM said Boeing had sent the new offer directly to union members and the media without telling the union’s representatives.

It also said the company’s deadline did not give it enough time to organise a vote by its members.

Boeing denied that it had not informed IAM representatives about the offer, and said it would give the union more time and logistical support to ballot its members.

More than 30,000 Boeing workers have been on strike since 13 September after rejecting a 25% pay rise offer.

Union members – who produce planes including the 737 Max and 777 – voted overwhelmingly to reject the offer and back strike action until a new agreement could be reached.

IAM had initially aimed for a number of improvements to workers’ packages, including a 40% pay rise.

The strike threatens to cost Boeing billions of dollars, deepening the crisis at a company already facing significant challenges.

The company has already suspended the jobs of tens of thousands of staff.

BARGAIN supermarket Aldi is selling an incredible dog-friendly product perfect for the chilly autumn weather.

The item is being sold as part of the supermarket’s Specialbuy range later this week with it prices set to start from just £7.99.

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The reversible dog bomber coats could be top sellers as we head into winter, with owners looking to keep their beloved pooches warm.

They come in two different colour schemes of either navy and red or green and yellow.

They also come in a range of sizes so they are perfect for dogs from Dachshunds to Labradors.

The smallest size measures in at 38cm by 33cm by 55cm with the jackets costing just £7.99.

They go all the way up to an extra large which costs only slightly more at £9.99.

Aldi describe the coat as “streetwear for your four-legged friend”.

The listing on their website reads: “Keep your four-legged friend warm and cosy in this Reversible XS-M Dog Bomber Jacket.

“With a velcro closure underneath, this jacket can be easily removed and adjusted for comfort.

“The reversible colours mean your dog can strut their stuff in style around the block as the weather gets colder.

“Your dog will love heading outdoors in this padded puffer jacket.”

Shoppers who are looking to buy their pups a very early Christmas gift will have to wait a few more days to finally bag them up however with Aldi only putting them up on shelves on Thursday.

They will be released alongside a whole host of other animal products as part of their massive Pet Event.

Everything from bedding, food, toys and storage products are being sold with everything coming in at under £25.

Extra large comfy pet beds are the priciest of the 43 items on offer at £24.99.

Cat toys and bird friendly snacks feeders are the cheapest at less than £2.

They even have savings on the big brands such as Dreamies cat snacks, Wagg doggy treats and Pedigree and Whiskas classics.

Aldi Specialbuys are a unique and fantastic offering from the supermarket.

For a full run down of the best they have to offer check out this article.

It comes as Aldi bargain hunters were also rushing out to get their hands on a dupe for a popular Cadbury’s dessert.

Dairyfine Pots of Choc, Aldi’s version of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Pots of Joy, are described as a “smooth and creamy dessert”.

Other shoppers were going wild for a middle-aisle find that’s scanning at tills for as little as 99p.

The Kids Camping Chair – shaped like a fox – was already massively reduced at just £4.99 but one lucky shopper managed to bag one up for under a pound.

You can find your nearest Aldi store by using the retailer’s store locator tool on its website.

Remember it is always best to shop around to try and spot which shop has the best deal on any particular product.

So these are the arcane rules for now and the candidates play the game. It is unlikely, however, that the founding fathers considered the deep maths involved.

Electoral game theory

In a short paper in 1921, the French mathematician and politician Émile Borel introduced the rudiments of what would a century later become the game you have just played. In Borel’s version, “each player arranges the numbers he has chosen in a determined order” and wins “if the numbers chosen by him are superior to the corresponding numbers” chosen by his opponent. If a majority of a player’s numbers are higher, they win. This is the mathematical skeleton of a political campaign.

Borel recognised the wider applications of this simple structure, writing that “the art of war or of economic and financial speculation are not without analogy to the problems concerning games”.

“The art of play,” Borel continued, “depends on psychology and not on mathematics.” But there is plenty of mathematics, too. In the field of game theory, this sort of competition became a canonical object of study, known as the Colonel Blotto game. In 1950, a germinal paper from the military think-tank now called the Rand Corporation described a “continuous Colonel Blotto game” and the strategies of “the wily Blotto” facing his “enemy”.

The fictional colonel is in charge of an army of troops, as is his opponent, which he has to distribute across some number of battlefields. Whoever is victorious on more battlefields wins the war. Real-world situations, including research and development, patent races, strategic hiring, auctions and, of course, elections have been examined through Blotto games.

Solutions to these games — what game theorists call equilibria — are maddeningly difficult to find. They involve complex “mixed strategies”, randomising across intricate plans so that your opponent cannot outguess you. In this sense, presidential campaigns can be thought of as incredibly rich versions of rock, paper, scissors.

A 2006 paper by a trio of political scientists was among the first to “appreciate the problem posed by the Electoral College and its Colonel Blotto game-like structure” — they argue, for example, that Gore’s hairbreadth loss to Bush in 2000 was due to mistakes in his Blotto strategy. A 2014 paper by two economists spends 20 pages on Blotto maths before concluding that more work would yield “insights into more complicated variants of the game, which may be more representative of real military, political or other environments”.

For now, your campaigning may reveal some glimpses of strategic insight into the political environment. And the real game will be decided on November 5, when Americans — and especially Arizonans, Georgians, Michiganders, Nevadans, North Carolinians, Pennsylvanians and Wisconsinites — go to the polls.

This story is free to read so you can share it with family and friends who don’t yet have an FT subscription.

BY YOUR ovens, ready, set, bake!

The Great British Bake Off returns at 8pm tonight on Channel 4, but what do you do when you’ve baked more cake than you can possibly eat?

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Here are some delicious ways to transform your leftover gateau.

TOP OF THE POPS: Cake pops are a fun way to give leftover cake a new lease of life.

Simply crumble the cake into fine crumbs, mix it with buttercream, and roll the mixture into small balls.

Insert a stick into each one, then coat them in more buttercream and sprinkles, or dip them in melted chocolate.

Pop them in the fridge to set, and you’ll have a fun and tasty treat for any occasion!

BACK TO BASICS: Leftover cake makes the perfect base for a classic trifle.

Layer chunks of cake with creamy custard, whipped cream and fresh fruit in a bowl or glass dish, especially if you’re serving guests.

You can even add jelly for that traditional touch. It’s an easy, budget-friendly dessert.

CRUMBS AWAY: Turn excess cake into crunchy sweet croutons to top your desserts.

Cut the cake into cubes, spread them on a baking tray, and bake at a low temperature until crisp.

Alternatively, pop them in your air fryer for a quick crunch.

These sweet, crispy bites make the perfect topping for ice cream, yoghurt, or fruit salads.

SHAKE IT UP: For an indulgent treat, blend leftover cake with milk and a scoop of ice cream for a “cake shake”.

You can use almost any type of cake, brownie, or even fudge to make your shake and the end result will taste amazing.

SAVE FOR LATER: If you can’t eat all your cake, just freeze it.

Slice the cake into portions, wrap each piece in cling film, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.

When you’re in need of a sweet treat, simply defrost a slice or two – saving you the effort of baking or buying another pudding.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

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WHIZZ around on the Zinc foldable scooter, now on offer at Argos.co.uk.

Previously £75, it’s now £35.

SAVE: £40

Cheap treat

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SAVE: £4.49

What’s new?

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Log your litter on the Planet Patrol app – ten pieces gets you ten per cent off, the more you collect, the bigger the discount.

Top swap

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SAVE: £8.01

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Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

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MABLETHORPE, near Skegness, is often slated as a seaside town.

It came bottom of the list for England’s seaside resorts this year in a Which? survey but I find it hard to believe, having visited it both as a child and now as a mum.

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The little coastal gem always delivers all the fun in the sun you’d expect at the Great British seaside.

I grew up going to the Lincolnshire coast every year for my family’s annual trip to the seaside and I still love taking my boys back now. 

One of my earliest holiday memories is riding a tandem in the sunshine with my parents and my brothers and going to watch the Care Bears Movie, around the time that Mablethorpe’s cinema was reopened as the Loewen, which is still going strong.

Mablethorpe’s beach stretches for miles and there’s two little trains that run you along the front if you’re staying further out at one of the holiday parks like Haven Golden Sands and want to get into the centre.

The trains are known as Landy and Sandy as one runs on the road and the other on the beach.

Tickets for Landy are £2 each, while Sandy costs £3 per person return or £1.50 for a one way trip and then you can amble back along the sandy shore, paddling in the sea if the tide is right. Under threes travel free and dogs are welcome aboard.

The trains are just one of the attractions run by Jacksons of Mablethorpe, which also offer a beachfront arcade with a mix of machines to keep all ages amused.

As the company is on the cusp of celebrating its 100th anniversary next year, it must be doing something right and there’s plenty of visitors like my family who keep coming back year after year.

If arcades and bars aren’t your thing, my top tip would be to check out the seal sanctuary at North End Beach over the road from the Haven park if you love wildlife or take a trip down the coast to charming Sutton-on-Sea if you fancy a change of scene. 

Golden Sands is a great place to stay, with indoor and outdoor pools and loads of kids activities like archery, climbing, high ropes and a free soft play.

It’s consistently rated as one of the most popular Haven sites and we’ve had loads of brilliant breaks there, meeting up with friends and having a blast.

My favourite time of year to visit is actually the October half term as I’ve often bagged a bargain as the holiday season comes to an end.

It’s fun checking out who’s decorated their caravan for Halloween and holiday parks can be a great place for traffic-free trick or treating.

And Lincolnshire is perfect for a staycay if you want to keep things cheap as chips as it’s not a big holiday hotspot, other than for Midlanders, so the prices are lower than at other seaside spots.

The irony of Mablethorpe’s surprise rating of just 46 per cent in this year’s Which? survey is that it’s only a year since it was named England‘s best beach in research commissioned by car rental firm Sixt, beating the likes of Cromer in Norfolk.

It was judged on water quality, parking, nearby amenities and whether there’s lifeguards on duty.

I’d be far more inclined to agree with last year’s rating, although if you’re looking at Mablethorpe town centre as a whole, there are bits that do look like they need a bit of TLC, like entertainment complex Spanish City, which was recently spotted on hit TV drama Sherwood.

Last year, it was neighbouring Skegness that came joint bottom of the Which? seaside survey, so it just goes to show that fortunes can change overnight.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the hustle and bustle of Skegvegas, the golden sands are what make Mablethorpe a must-visit in my eyes.

What are the Sun team’s favourite seaside towns?

The Sun’s travel team share some of their favourite English seaside towns

Folkestone, Kent

With views of France (on a very clear day), the main attraction is the Harbour Arm, sitting at the edge of the converted train tracks and selling hand-crafted goods and amazing food.

The multicoloured high street with shops and restaurants can’t be missed, my favourites being Burrito Buoy for some amazing margaritas and The Folkestone Bookshop for some novels.

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You’ll need to pack your beach shoes as it has a stony beach over a sandy beach – but after a few drinks at the much loved pilot bar, you’ll hardly care.

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Mousehole, Cornwall

The small sandy bay has retained it’s chocolate box charm, crammed with weathered fishing boats and backed by pokey cafes and airy art galleries where seaside-inspired works hang from the walls.

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For impeccable views of a wild sea and homemade grub, head to Rock Pool Cafe which sits atop a craggy cliff and order a ‘make it yourself’ hot chocolate.

There are some impressive coastal walks – but be warned it can be hilly.

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire

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Accessible on a spit of sand when the tide is out, this quirky little community art project is made up of driftwood, flags and mementoes from those who have visited to admire the huge swathes of golden sands and sparkling waters.

Sadly the original was destroyed in a fire in 2023 but an enthusiastic band of local volunteers are slowly re-building the landmark.

Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

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