Senior industry figures have expressed concern at the government’s lack of focus on key travel and business issues amid Conservative Party infighting following Boris Johnson’s resignation from Parliament.
Julie Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, warned of “a period of government instability” and Business Travel Association chief executive Clive Wratten complained of “paralysis” in Westminster, with industry bodies looking to develop closer ties with Labour leaders.
Abta director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge noted: “The infighting is not having too much impact at a departmental level. The challenge is getting the government to focus on a small number of priorities.
“Any distraction is not helpful. [But] the big challenge is the two bills going through Parliament – the Illegal Immigration Bill and the Retained EU Law Bill. There isn’t much parliamentary time and the government doesn’t have the capacity for much else.”
Lo Bue-Said argued: “We can’t do anything in a crisis and right now the government is in a crisis. We’re entering a period of government instability.
“It’s a big worry. The general election is clearly going to be the focus of what they do.”
She said: “You want to fight for the ears of policymakers when you’re not in a crisis, because in a crisis they aren’t going to listen. Every industry will be pressuring the government and it puts us at the back of the queue. It has been bad enough the last six months, let alone now.”
Wratten agreed: “It’s frustrating. There is a bit of paralysis. The government is focused on 2024 and the general election. There is a not a lot of momentum.”
He noted: “We’re spreading our aim and we’ve changed our focus a bit to working with the Labour Party.”
Tom Jenkins, chief executive of European travel association Etoa and chair of the Tourism Alliance, said: “Tourism is way down the priority list. There are so many industries under real stress.”
But he added: “Tourism being overlooked isn’t unusual. It doesn’t mean we stop trying.”
A leading aviation source told Travel Weekly: “We’ve not noticed a difference in engagement, but we’re keeping an eye on what’s happening. The problem with the government is if an issue isn’t one of the prime minister’s five priorities, they aren’t interested.
“We’ve been engaging with the Labour shadow cabinet for months. The polls tell you it’s sensible to engage with Labour.”
The resignation of Johnson and two fellow MPs will trigger three by-elections and the source noted: “The by-elections will be key. If the government loses even two of the three, Sunak is in for a rocky summer.”
Petherbridge noted: “There will be a King’s speech setting out the government’s priorities for the final year ahead of a general election and there should be some opportunities for the industry at that point. We need to be laser-focused.” The King’s speech is expected in November.
Aviation and maritime minister Baroness Vere is due to address Abta’s Travel Matters conference in London on Wednesday along with Labour shadow minister for aviation and maritime Mike Kane.