Tieless in Ima

The chairman feels the IMA dinner's lax dress code is all down to Gordon Brown, as are the rest of the world's ills

"Now that's what I call a speech," sighed the chairman of the insignificantly-sized investment company SmallBluePlanet happily as Simon Davies left the stage and the annual Investment Management Association dinner began in earnest amid the luxurious splendour of the Blunkett Room at The Grosvenor. "Almost perfect in every way. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that was the best speech ever by an IMA chairman." "But he only stood up, said hello, presented four journalist awards and sat down again," I said. "That's why I said 'almost perfect'," replied the chairman. "Pity he spoilt it with th...