VETERAN MP Kenneth Clarke was among antiques when he paid a flying visit to Taylor’s Auction Rooms in Montrose yesterday.

“This is one of the most unusual podiums I have had for some time,” the shadow business secretary said as he congratulated the long-established family firm on their imminent relocation to a new £1.2 million centre.

The firm is moving from its town set-up to a purpose-built unit on the outskirts with four salerooms, extensive storage, office and reception areas and parking for 100 and more vehicles.

He said the move was taking place against a backdrop of the worst economic crisis in living memory.

“The country is in a frightful state and we have lost confidence in our political institutions,” he told his audience. “Whoever wins the next election will have a very difficult time before we get back to normality.

“We are still in recession while practically all other developed countries in the western world have the first flickerings of recovery.”

He said one reason the UK was among the worst affected and slowest to recover was public finances were in a mess, even during the boom before anyone had heard of a credit crisis.

Tough decisions had to be made and public spending curbed quickly to get the deficit under control. He suggested a straightforward guaranteed loan scheme, deregulation, less red tape, a simplified tax system championing a new high-tech, value-added economy.

“It is important the UK election has a decisive result,” he added. “I don’t want a hung parliament—coalition government is weak government.”