LETTERS Filled with mistakes
Sir: In attempting to discredit Virgin and myself Os Branson falling?', 21 February) Edward Heathcoat Amory uses an array of facts that are just not true. One telephone call to me or our press office to check his statements before going to press would have avoided some of his worst mistakes. But perhaps he was concerned that it would spoil a good story.
Where to start? Your journalist says that our 'weakness derives from the business approach that has made Virgin so success- ful'. He says that this business approach is to license our name in return for a cut of profits to outside companies, and that Vir- gin is little more than a highly adept fran- chising operation.
This is complete rubbish. We have man- agement control of 100 per cent of the companies that operate under the Virgin name with the exception of the two that we've sold. We set up the companies, we find good managers, we give them a lot of freedom to manage but they report back to us.
As to other issues: despite investing £60 million over two years (generated from cash flow) in a massive improvement pro- gramme, Virgin Cinemas do not charge more than their rivals. There is no increas- ing proportion of train delays. Together Railtrack and Virgin have dramatically reduced the number of delays that existed under British Rail. The Deputy Prime Min- ister never made a comment to me about the British paint industry. I have never walked out of an interview if asked ques- tions of which I disapprove. I went to Tony Blair's victory party because Tony Blair himself invited me. Our lottery bid would have raised more money for good causes (the Director General said he could not take our profits for charity into account or market research showing that more people would play). I didn't buy out Cott because Virgin Cola was having problems. I bought them out as a result of the owner's death and so we could expand overseas.
And finally — to date anyway — I have never sued anyone to suppress criticism of myself or Virgin.
Richard Branson
Virgin Management Ltd, 11 Holland Park, London W11
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