POST-ELECTION BY MARTIN FERGUSON
PADDY ASHDOWN THOUGHT HE HAD SEEN IT ALL. On election night, the former Liberal Democrat leader told the BBC’s David Dimbleby live on air that he would publicly eat his hat if the exit polls – which gave the Conservatives a clear win and saw his party obliter- ated – turned out to be true. In the subsequent days he was predictably presented with an array of chocolate stetsons and marzipan fedoras. To be fair to Paddy, he wasn’t the only person left dazed and confused by the returns. Even Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron was said to be in a mild state of shock. In the months prior to the vote, pollsters couldn’t separate support for Labour and the Tories. The disparity between official predictions and final results has called the pollsters’ methods into question. But as the dust settles, the corporate travel industry can take some solace in knowing a majority govern- ment (of any stripe) can be more decisive on the issues. Graham Ramsey describes himself as politically “middle of the road”. But the chief executive of travel management company ATPI believes the country had a lucky escape on May 7. “If we had ended up with a Labour-SNP coalition I fear it would have taken many years to recover,” he says. “Even if the Conser- vatives are to be voted out of office in five years time, I think we now stand to benefit from a more business-friendly environment. There is a preparedness to listen to the views of people and encourage ambition.”
ARE YOU IN OR OUT? Perhaps the most significant issue facing the country during the tenure of the new government is the in/out referendum on
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
The PM does not want to leave the Euro club; but significant pressure from backbench sceptics forced him cave to referendum demands
the European Union (EU). As BBT was going to press, Prime Minister Cameron was pressing the flesh around the EU in an attempt to carve out a better deal for Britain. The PM does not want to leave the Euro club; but significant pressure from backbench sceptics forced him to cave in to referendum demands. On June 8 Cameron made a shock U-turn on a threat to sack ministers who campaign for an EU exit. Confusion reigned, but ministers are expected to toe the line during the renegotiation period. Ramsey’s company does significant business in Europe, particularly France, Scandinavia and the Benelux countries. “For the UK to withdraw would be a mistake,” he warns. “If this boils down to immigration, then we have to find a better way to manage the movement of people. But to come out of the common market would be detrimental [to the economy]. People should not be so naïve to think that if we isolate our- selves from the rest of the EU that we’ll be able to rely on the Commonwealth and our special relationship with the US.” Ramsey says his company would
BUSINESS TRAVEL COMMUNITY PRIORITIES FOR NEW GOVERNMENT
• Airport expansion strategy following Davies’ report
• Start construction of HS2
• APD parity across the UK if Scots move to abolish it
• Improve transport links between London and the South West
• Rail fare freeze • EU referendum resolution
prepare for both outcomes, but believes that voters will “see sense”.
NATS AMORE
Most of the election night’s fireworks were seen north of the border. By winning 56 of the 59 available seats the SNP, led by Holyrood-based Nicola Sturgeon, has upset the political status quo and is now the third-best represented party in the Commons. Having already received more tax and spending powers from Westminster, the Nats have pledged to cut the rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD) levied at Scottish airports. If passenger volumes were to increase as a result it would be very difficult for the chancellor of the exchequer to ignore calls for it to be abolished. Paul Wait, the chief executive of the Guild of Travel Management
BBT JULY/AUGUST 2015 47
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