Workers at Jaguar Land Rover have been given a crumb of Christmas comfort with news of a government bailout worth tens of millions of pounds.

Nobody could argue that a strong car manufacturing base is important to Britain. Nobody could argue that it would be disastrous for a company that employs 15,000 UK workers – and sustains the employment of thousands more – to go to the wall.

But, with Vauxhall also in dire circumstances, we have to ask: is state interventionism the right approach? Shouldn’t we leave firms to fend for themselves? And, if banks and vehicle manufacturers can be bailed out, why not High Street stores?

Register your voice in our poll…