Stuart Rose is a poor choice for Remain leader, as Business people normally are for political roles

It is a strange fact of life that business people make for awful politicians and often vice versa.

I met a long time ago Archie Norman - a fantastic businessman who was responsible for building the UK arm of Wal-Mart (ASDA). He really knew how to stick it to Tesco and Sainsbury's as well as building a really good team and office around him. ASDA by all accounts was even quite a good place to work and still is.

So when he became a Tory MP there were high hopes. But they were dashed, shadowing the Government was of little interest and he soon returned to Industry and is now Chairman of ITV plc.

The thing is, in business when you are the boss people do what they are paid to do. bad ideas, good ideas, all are acted upon as directed. In politics, the media, the civil service, your pesky voters; all get to comment endlessly but also, with Unions, have a direct impact on what you can do. After all the Civil Service is the delivery platform but ministers cannot easily sack civil servants.

So a common mistake made by politicians entering into politics is that the energy and insight they bring will serve them well. Stuart Rose will be a case in point. Firstly, he now leads an in-campaign when he used to be fa more equivocal about Europe (you would be as M&S CEO, always a mess there for them...).

Then they will try to order around people and the 'convicing' element is somewhat lacking. After all in the office, you need people onside but they are going to do what they are told overall. This lack of ability to connect and actually persuade people is a hard skill; few politicians are good at it. CEO's mistake their workers for voters at their peril.

Finally, in business you have a good team, especially if you have worked your way to the top of a big and successful company. Those around you are talented and money is not a worry. Again, a political campaign like this EU Referendum one will be challenging and the friendly-fire level will be high.

As a Leave voter I am very pleased a Businessman has been chosen to campaign for stay; let's just  hope the Leave campaigns make some better choices.