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- Sutcliffe: Get your act together
| Author Name | Opinion | Reply |
|---|---|---|
J Mark Dodds 03/04/2008 10:20:21 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together “I think the industry’s right to be upset. We, and I speak as a champion of the pub trade, want the Chancellor to change his mind." It's somewhat disingenuous for Gerry, as licensing minister, to be talking like he's got nothing to do with government tax policy isn't it? If Gerry's been quoted accurately, while he's clear this industry is not united, it appears he's not up to speed on what's going on altogether in this industry - but perhaps that's because it's NOT united and no one's giving him a clear message. Who really does champion this industry? (apart from Graham Allman of course!). Please tell me. On reflection, I'd say the closest thing this industry has to a Champion is this website - as far as I know this is the only resource nationally that's accessible and to a great extent uninhibited where people in the industry can get a sense of what's happening across the country and an understanding that they aren't alone in their experience. This post replies to this thread |
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Alastair Elliott 03/04/2008 13:15:12 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together Mark there have been people fighting for front line licensees for years, Ken Nason and Bob Feal-Martinez to name just two. The problem is it is only now that the front line operators on mass are on their knees that there is so much out pouring of grief. The front line trade isn't united because it's not been allowed to be. Vested interests have kept it that way. There are now too many little groups which seems to be resulting in the best forum for 3 years now being closed. This splittering is not helping anyone. The new NALHM union will not be the answer either as a tiny part of the TGWU they will just be told what to do and as the TGWU is one of the few unions still in the pockets of HMG what does that say to you. As an outsider I think licensees could have missed the boat. This post replies to this thread |
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| Graham Allman 03/04/2008 13:24:22 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together Mark , thanks for that , it is great to know that my efforts to "champion the industry" are not going unrecognised. Posibly a "gong" out of all this effort. However , when i say "industry" i do of course mean the whole industry and those who also earn from it and support & work along side it such as the MA and my own company along this brewers, pubcos, freetraders, lessees and staff , LA's anon. Not just the minority of wingers and doomsawyers who are trying to ruin the trade for us all and have their own agenda. This post replies to J Mark Dodds > RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together |
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William McLeod 03/04/2008 14:46:58 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together The answer is pretty simple. Are not over half of the pubs involved with a pubco? Have you seen any organised effort by a single one of them to try to band together and at least voice their displeasure at any of the recent legislation? The answer is no. And as they collectively recieve the lion's share of income from their public houses, it would be hoped that they would listen to their lessees and go to the wall to protect their industry. But thus far, other than lamenting after the fact when legislation costs them money, nothing happens. The people that need to champion the cause are the ones with the biggest balance sheets and the corporate structure (read spin into this, please) to affect a change. Lessees cannot make this change, and as a result, thousands will fold or face insolvency in the times to come. Just look at the other article on this site today with Shepherd Neame. This post replies to this thread |
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Mike Butcher 03/04/2008 17:20:25 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together We need an organisation that will fight our corner and at the moment there is not one. The BII and other such organisations are more interested in making money than helping the trade bring pressure to bear. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has come to my aid on several occasions when the other (so called) trade body's have failed to do anything. If you want a body that will go all out to fight your corner, join your local FSB!
Mike Butcher (former FBII member) This post replies to this thread |
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| Brian Forster 03/04/2008 18:00:24 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together Why is there such tremendous disparity between government attitudes to different industries? In this interview it is stated that it is not the government's job to keep puibs open. But successive governments have done just that for the car industry for decades, the licence plate schemes are designed to generate trade for the car industry at two certain times each year even though the motor industry creates a huge national trade deficit for this country. Why does that trade benefit from such government asistance when our trade is not thier concern? The pub trade is manned by many people and needs a shot in the arm to safeguard jobs and a national way of life. This post replies to this thread |
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| simon hynes 03/04/2008 18:49:49 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together Given the governments actions on pubs, ie the smoking ban etc and their lack of action on cheap booze from the supermarkets, their policy on alchol consumption is very clear, they want drinkers out of the pubs and onto the streets. This post replies to this thread |
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| El Nino Luminoso 03/04/2008 18:56:28 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together It seems that Gerry stepped on his tongue on this one. This post replies to simon hynes > RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together |
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jane acott 04/04/2008 00:37:04 |
RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together There were four words in this artical to worry about: 1) Chancellor 2) Budget and the two that cause me the most concern: 3) Might 4) (Re) Think The first is his title the second is his job the third is something he probably won't do and the forth is something he should have done before he decided to hike prices. And that said, I'm off to the bottom of my beer garden to sit with the leprechauns at the end of the rainbow next to my pot of gold to ensure the fairies are looking after my money tree and to drink an over priced ale and contemplate the next time a big pink pig will fly overhead. Oh...so this is what it is like working in the government. Then mummy tucked up rich little Gordon into bed and he dreamed of the yarn that little Gerry Sutcliffe had spun to all the licensees in order to win their votes back. The End.... This post replies to El Nino Luminoso > RE: Sutcliffe: Get your act together |
