In an editorial last week, BBC chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman summed up the last 15 months of the United Kingdom political zeitgeist.
Summarizing conversations from the corridors of Westminster, Zeffman wrote “this government isn’t good enough at explaining what it’s doing, who it’s for and what the prime minister is all about.”
Those are communicative absences that are worrying to hoteliers, investors and others in the hospitality industry in the run-up to the Labour government’s budget coming on Nov. 26.
I hope those concerns are unfounded as that would mean a healthier country with balance books and a strong growth trajectory, but maybe I am the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand.
Last year's budget generally has been considered to be bad for the hotels and hospitality industries, with increased National Insurance contributions hurting most companies' bottom lines.
The Labour Party’s manifesto — the one that won it power in July 2024 after some 15 years of Conservative Party government — ruled out tax increases. But media commentators, helped by the government cabinet’s refusal to be drawn into comment, are suggesting tax rises are on the way. Or more taxes are on the way, as the last budget already contained some.
In August, UKHospitality released in an analysis from the government’s Office for National Statistics that calculated approximately 89,000 jobs had been lost in hotels and hospitality since the last budget.
Business hates uncertainty, and voters hate obfuscation.
The country needs to hear an agenda.
That, or so I think, is Zeffman’s message, and if that is not heeded then the country likely will not be a happy one.
In the political landscape, there have been very, very few Labour governments since the party was founded a little more than 100 years ago.
Political bent put aside, this government might be on very thin ice if it does not soon say what its message and agenda are — or clarify what they are.
It might not be what one wants to hear, but at least we might start to comprehend the government's future policies, decisions and arguments.
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