'Austerity', 'cuts', 'deficit', all seem to be the defining words of the past five years. We have also been told by politicians that ‘we are all in it together’ whilst others state ‘there is no money’.
I don’t wish to start this blog with such negative undertones, however, it’s fundamental to remember this rhetoric over the coming months as we enter the last 100 days before the election.
With less than 100 days to go until the General Election, the political parties’ election campaigns are now fully underway. Parliamentary political candidates (PPCs) are now increasingly meeting with industry and will be listening intently to what industry has to say.
As part of these meetings the first question the PPCs will inevitably ask is, what can government do for you? It’s normally at this point that the Abba lyric ‘All the things I could do, if I had a little money’ comes to mind. Unfortunately, as we now know, there is no money to solve and underpin all the issues facing industry at present. In order for industry to be seen as credible we must refrain from answering this question with a fiscal answer.
The CPA understands the challenges and constraints faced by government, consequently, our policy recommendations over the past five years have aimed to offer solutions that are fiscally neutral, practical, and evidence-based to provide immediate impact whilst driving long-term growth.
Whilst industry continues its lobbying campaigns to increase awareness of the sector and ensure future support in any future government, it is vital that politicians and key influencers see us as credible partners who understand the politics of the day. If industry can be seen in this light it will ensure a positive reputation with the new government over the next five years. With all of this in mind, I call on industry to think outside the box and, more importantly, refrain from asking for money!