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there have been some embarrassing
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headlines for the government today after
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Labour had to cancel a5,000 pound ahead
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conference with business leaders
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according to the Financial Times the
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plan was scrapped because of low demand
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for tickets invitations had reportedly
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touted the event as first of its kind
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more on that later that would give
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industry bigwigs a unique opportunity to
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engage with Labour's plan to kickstart
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economic growth the event would have
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been headlined by the chancellor Rachel
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Reeves and the business secretary
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Jonathan Reynolds the FT spoke to a
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range of possible attendees about why
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they wouldn't be making it to the event
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with one blaming an industry-wide
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cutback in in-house government affairs
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funding but for all of the talk about
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this event as unprecedented and unique
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it's not the first time that a Labour
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business event has been more of a
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snoozefest than a schmoofest back in
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March a 1,500 pound a ticket event with
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the chancellor in Muryside was canned
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without any explanation most
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embarrassingly of all back in September
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Labour hosted a shambolic £3,000 ahead
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business day notoriously headlined by a
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virtual Rachel Reeves appearing via
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video link and CCM columnist Elliot
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Wilson described bleak scenes of
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attendees asking for refunds and one
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complaining about being made to queue in
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a bleak corridor for a drinks reception
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where there was no access to ministers
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it wasn't always like this in fact ahead
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of the general election last year when
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Kama of course swept to power with the
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biggest majority since Tony Blair Labour
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looked a lot like the natural party of
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business back then Star boasted the
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support of 120 business chiefs a huge
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symbolic win that accelerated the
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historic defeat of Richie Snack's
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conservatives but the honeymoon with
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business was so short it barely even
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counts as a honeymoon since all of those
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endorsements goodwill from the square
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mile has melted away as the chancellor's
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budget unleashed a slew of new taxes
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costs and regulations on businesses with
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Reeves caught between conflicting
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promises to stick within her fiscal
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rules and not raise taxes on individuals
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businesses have become an easy target
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it's clear that Labour is trying hard to
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reclaim the mantle of the party of
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business but it could be that this
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succession of botched networking events
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is doing more harm than good for
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everything you need to know about this
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story head to cityam.com
