Our voice must be heard in a new era
Last week's landslide victory for the Labour Party in the general election is likely to lead to significant changes for the hospitality industry in the next few years.
New legislation is promised in some areas, including a national minimum wage. But throughout the election campaign the Labour Party has promised a new era of partnership between employers, employees and politicians.
Writing in Caterer (10 April), the then shadow secretary for national heritage, Jack Cunningham, said: "Labour's strategy for working in partnership with the tourism and hospitality industries, together with our policies for a stable, successful economy and close cross-departmental co-operation, will ensure that government commitment enables your business to prosper."
Some moves towards greater partnership had already begun under the Tories, particularly after the appointment of Virginia Bottomley as national heritage secretary. But even then some people gave Labour a lot of credit for forcing the Tories' hand by pushing hard on hospitality issues.
Now that there is such a huge majority for Labour the efforts of the Conservatives in opposition could have very little impact indeed. As a result, the way the hospitality industry organises its lobbying effort will be crucial in the months and years ahead. Its voice will be heard louder if more people join organisations such as the British Hospitality Association.
The industry can take some comfort from the way Labour nurtured the support it received from leading industry figures, particularly Gerry Robinson and Sir Terence Conran. Labour must now repay that support by making sure it minimises the burdens placed on the industry and recognises the huge role hospitality has to play in the economy.
Caterer urges the new Labour administration to pay particular attention to reform of liquor licensing, to have a more relaxed attitude to planning, a commitment to reversing proposed education funding cuts and to reducing the high rates of VAT on hotel accommodation.
On a minimum wage it is vital that the level is set such that jobs are not put at risk. Legislation on pay should only aim to protect the very weak from bad employers and not lead to a big, unwieldy bureaucracy which would be a burden and cost to all businesses and taxpayers.
Labour's promise of greater social justice combined with a positive attitude to business is an attractive combination that clearly caught the imagination of voters. The hope now is that those promises are fully delivered for the benefit of employers and employees alike.
GARY CROSSLEY
Editor
Caterer & Hotelkeeper
