Time is running out

The latest news that the £150bn support package to help alleviate the situation caused by the energy crisis might be delayed until November will come as a body blow to the hospitality sector.

Pubs and bars are teetering on the brink, and some are already falling over on a daily basis as the lack of action by the Government pushes them to make heart-breaking decisions in the face of catastrophic increases.

No reassurance

We had to wait for a new Prime Minister, and despite promises of action, we’ve seen no detail or reassurance to businesses that are desperate for information to help them make some truly difficult calls.

The news that the package might not be ready until November is a real slap in the face, particularly in light of the fact it might be down to the fact Parliament will be recessing for conference season for nearly a month at the end of September.

Surely there needs to be some kind of prioritisation here - are we really going to sit back and watch industries burn because the MPs fancy a nice little jolly by the seaside?

Try to survive

We’ve had to wait and wait, while costs and pressures mount, this Government needs to get back to work and get those details out there, to give operators the information they need to try and survive.

So far, all we’ve had is the broad headlines and vast figures being bandied about, we’ve no idea of the detail of those plans, or if there is any detail - the cynic in me would suggest probably not.

At times of national crisis, we need to adapt and change processes, taking a month off for conference season would be the height of irresponsibility, and while responsibility seems to be something the current Government has lacked to date, I hope against hope that some common sense prevails under our new leadership, otherwise I fear we’ll be mourning a lot more than just the loss of a beloved Queen.