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British industrialists who have to make patriotic and encouraging noises to foreign journalists deserve everyone's heartfelt sympathy. Sir Barrie Heath, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, was in that embarrassing situation when he held a reception in Brussels on the eve of the Brussels Motor Show.
As he proclaimed that the British motor industry "continues to operate in an expanding domestic market," his company, GKN, was steeling itself for a complete shutdown by Leyland because of the lorry drivers' strike and the domestic and export markets in everything were being strangled.
As Sir Barrie was speaking, Farmer (No Crisis) Jim was making a pathetic attempt in the House of Commons to buy off the mob to whom he has sacrificed the power of government, and to salvage what remains of Britain's credibility.
Sir Barrie must have felt like a ventriloquist's dummy.