UK Government Reverses Pubs U-Turn Decision Amid Backlash
The swift reversal of Labour's decision to revisit business rates valuations for pubs has been seen as a positive move by some, but others are questioning why the government felt the need to make the change in the first place. The new plan aims to provide relief to the struggling hospitality industry, which had been bracing for major increases in business rates under the previous proposal.
While the decision was welcomed by Labour MPs and pub owners alike, many backbenchers are still asking what prompted the government to take such drastic action. This is not the first time this has happened; just over a fortnight ago, the government U-turned on changes to inheritance tax for farms, following months of pressure from campaigners.
In both cases, it appears that the Treasury was more focused on saving money than fully considering the consequences of their decisions. The change in business rates valuations has been described as a "clear example" of this trend, with some MPs suggesting that the government should have predicted the backlash and taken steps to mitigate it.
The latest U-turn is part of a pattern of decisions being pushed through without proper consultation or engagement with stakeholders. This approach may lead to policy mistakes, as one MP noted, adding, "When the government thoroughly consults ahead of producing policy, it goes really well. However, whenever it presses ahead with plans without the engagement of people with lived experience, or backbench MPs with their finger on the pulse, it ends up in the wrong place."
The question remains whether the government will take this as an opportunity to listen and engage more with stakeholders, rather than simply reversing decisions due to pressure from all sides.
The swift reversal of Labour's decision to revisit business rates valuations for pubs has been seen as a positive move by some, but others are questioning why the government felt the need to make the change in the first place. The new plan aims to provide relief to the struggling hospitality industry, which had been bracing for major increases in business rates under the previous proposal.
While the decision was welcomed by Labour MPs and pub owners alike, many backbenchers are still asking what prompted the government to take such drastic action. This is not the first time this has happened; just over a fortnight ago, the government U-turned on changes to inheritance tax for farms, following months of pressure from campaigners.
In both cases, it appears that the Treasury was more focused on saving money than fully considering the consequences of their decisions. The change in business rates valuations has been described as a "clear example" of this trend, with some MPs suggesting that the government should have predicted the backlash and taken steps to mitigate it.
The latest U-turn is part of a pattern of decisions being pushed through without proper consultation or engagement with stakeholders. This approach may lead to policy mistakes, as one MP noted, adding, "When the government thoroughly consults ahead of producing policy, it goes really well. However, whenever it presses ahead with plans without the engagement of people with lived experience, or backbench MPs with their finger on the pulse, it ends up in the wrong place."
The question remains whether the government will take this as an opportunity to listen and engage more with stakeholders, rather than simply reversing decisions due to pressure from all sides.
u think its funny when gov't keeps u turning left & right but honestly its just a sign of incompetence 
they cant even get one thing right without making another mess like the inheritance tax u turn last fortnight was bad enough and now pubs are struggling again 
it feels like they're more interested in saving face than actually doing what's best for the country 
whats the point of having a gov't if they cant even make decisions without consulting anyone? 
at least when they do get something right its just a coincidence 
they're always making these last minute changes that kinda make sense but also feel like a big deal i mean what even is the point of revising business rates valuations in the first place? it's not like they didn't know pubs were struggling 
should've been more careful, imo 
Are they trying to keep everyone on their toes or what? 
The pub industry is already struggling, and now they're giving them a reprieve... sounds like a win-win to me! 
But seriously, have they ever thought about how their decisions affect small businesses and the people who work for them? 
It's all about listening to their concerns and working together, right? 
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. And according to a recent survey, 60% of pubs are struggling to make ends meet due to rising costs 
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. They need to actually listen to people who own these businesses and understand their problems before making changes 
. And what's with all the u-turns? Can't they just stick to one plan for once? 
I feel like pubs are always struggling, its so unfair that they have to deal with business rate increases on top of everything else. Its not just the pub owners who will be affected but also the staff and community who rely on them for a living 
. The fact that the government U-turned now shows they might finally be listening...fingers crossed they actually make some changes that benefit everyone 
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so many backlash, they gotta fix it ASAP 
think gov should really 2-step b4 makin changes instead of just flip flopping 
. I get that the hospitality industry is struggling, but you'd think they'd take a step back and think about how their decisions are gonna impact people. Like, didn't they consider the pub owners' POV or anything? 
It feels like they're just trying to save money at any cost