The flashing sale signs entice customers but there can often be myriad conditions.

Some of the products offered by lenders have a built-in 60-day excess, for example Alliance & Leicester, or a 30-day exclusion, such as the Halifax. In other words, the policy does not pay out until a borrower has been off work ill for a minimum of 30 or 60 days. Many customers just cannot envisage such a long period of illness.

The sign brings customers

You may be a redneck if . . . you think you are an entrepreneur because of the "Dirt for Sale" sign in the front yard.

There's a myriad of things that could be done.

We realize they've got other customers. They've got China. They've got India,” Slaughter continued, “But by George, we've got to do something to protect the American economy.