Labour knows it cannot risk being dragged into war with business

Analysis: while the interests of chief executives and the country may no longer be seen as synonymous, Labour knows it must tread carefully

If anyone thinks Labour does not privately care about the opinions of business, it is worth recalling what Douglas Alexander, the head of the Labour election campaign committee, said he had learned in the wake of the Scottish independence referendum.

After the no team had scored a clear but close victory, he told the Guardian: "Don't discount the capacity of business still to have influence in the business square. It's naive to think it does not matter at all.