So proud to have been re-elected Vice Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism APPG

I’m so proud to have been re-elected as Vice Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism APPG this week.

Hospitality is a cornerstone industry and contributes so much to so many communities, including ours in South Devon. But I often feel the government doesn’t treat the industry with the respect and seriousness it deserves.

I’m sure most have seen the statistics showing how many jobs have been lost since Labour came to office or how many pubs are closing every week. If you haven’t, let me be blunt: they are really bad.

If this was happening in any other industry, it would be headline news, but at times the government seems oblivious about what’s happening.

Andy Burnham has brought a welcome change of approach, and I was pleased to see him cut VAT for pubs this summer. Though, it should go without saying that hospitality is not just pubs – what about the restaurants, hotels, cafes, and cinemas, which make our communities what they are?

Part of my role is to work with the industry and be their voice in parliament. This is going to be particularly important, especially as we head towards the first Budget of the Burnham Government.