But one of the most interesting things I saw, during yesterday’s tumult and upheaval, was the previous Prime Minister and Chancellor’s choice of venue to mark the end of their era.
Irony of ironies, Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were papped celebrating their own departure in, guess where…. Yes! The pub.
Now, leaving aside the fact there is a pub operator out there that would serve the duo (I can only assume they sent their aides to the bar), it’s quite the statement to be leaving on.
This is the pair that have done more damage to the pub sector in the last two years than even a global pandemic.
Two pubs a day have been closing under their watch, largely due to the economic havoc Reeves has created, adding layer upon layer of cost and tax burden onto a creaking sector.
They should thank their lucky stars there was a pub left for them to have a celebratory drink in. But I doubt the irony of the moment was recognised by either of them.
And I’m still baffled that a pub was willing to host them, but in these challenging times, I guess any business is welcome.
So cheers for your support at the very end Keir and Rachel. It’s better late than never, and follows in the footsteps of all the “support” you claimed to provide to pubs. Little, limited and usually pointless.
But out with the old, in with the new. Andy Burnham is now in place, and he’s already appointed a new, perhaps more pragmatic Chancellor in John Healey.
We already know that Burnham appears to have a more sympathetic view towards hospitality than his predecessor (although that wouldn’t be hard), let’s hope his new number two in the Treasury shares his beliefs and we see some genuine, useful decisions being made to benefit the sector in the days and weeks ahead.
Call me an optimist!