The date and time has now been officially set for a debate in Parliament on the appointment of a Minister for Hospitality, Monday 11th January 2021, 4.30pm.
The debate will take place following a petition created by Claire Bosi, Editor, Chef & Restaurant Magazine on 9 October.
The campaign started well seeing more than ten thousand signatures on the first day, and then faded somewhat. Harry Murray MBE, Chairman Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, then stepped up to rekindle momentum campaigning tenaciously on twitter.
Robin Hutson, Chairman & CEO, The Pig Hotel, then joined Harry accompanied by a group of young management trainees within Home Grown Hotels to create and launch #SEATATTHETABLE. A social media led campaign to bolster support and encourage many from the hospitality family to get involved and support.
The hospitality family heeded the call, from the collective help of many, not least James Martin and a video call to his 695,000 twitter followers, the 100,000 signature line was crossed. It currently stands at 148,000 and is growing.
As the news came in we spoke with Claire Bosi who delighted with the news of the date told us: “When the email came in on Tuesday afternoon, I was surprised at the closeness of the debate date, excited that the petitions committee had approved the petition for debate, and nervous.
“Why nervous? Because this is so important, so critical and so desperately needed for our sector and all those in it – directly or indirectly. This is the best chance we have had to get proper ministerial representation.
“There will be many conversations and much planning from today, up until the 11th January on how best to maximise this opportunity, and also, what the next steps could be, should the petition be unsuccessful. We have got this far, if we fall at this hurdle, we will pick ourselves back up and finish the race.
“In the meantime, we still plead with people to spread the word and continue to get more signatures. The more weight behind us as we head into Parliament, the better”
Harry Murray was similarly delighted saying: “When Claire Bosi launched petition I said this was best opportunity we would ever have to make a stand for a Minister of Hospitality.
“Now thanks to Robin Hutson’s Seat at the Table team we have inspired the industry to respond and hopefully can convince Parliament the Hospitality industry is a force to be reckoned with.
“I am pleased to see chefs James Martin, Marcus Wareing, Angela Hartnett, Tom Kerridge and Cyrus Todiwala firmly behind the campaign and hope to see more chef ‘names’ join and support the campaign.”
Robin Hutson was likewise pleased saying: “Obviously we are all thrilled, we have achieved our original stated objective by showing widespread industry support in the form of 100,000 signatures to ask for a debate to create the post of Minister of Hospitality.
“Now the real work begins, how do we translate that into getting ourselves a committed and respected voice for the sector within the heart of government.”
Within a constantly changing hospitality landscape, emphasised more than ever by Tier 3 restrictions being imposed on London that will see circa 20,000 hospitality business close for Christmas, the time for change is now.
So, please ensure that every person that has ever touched your hospitality business, in any way, signs the petition. The total number of signatures confirming the wish for a Minister for Hospitality on Monday 11th January 2021, 4.30pm could just help swing the debate our way.
SIGN HERE PLEASE
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Hospitality & Catering News: Debate Minister for Hospitality – 16 December 2020 – Debate Minister for Hospitality.
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