fosters big fat awesome house party game

Who even asked for this? The CBI’s Tony Danker even went on the record to tell LBC the little-lamented tax cut would not be “in the top 30 things that would get growth going.” But apart from that … So abandoning the plan was, erm, not great for the old long-term planning. Trade associations had already been blindsided by the initial axing of the 45p rate, having had no advance consultation despite it being billed as a big-ticket growth measure. And unsurprisingly, starting the week with a massive late-night tax U-turn didn’t exactly calm jitters. Still: There were some serious points to be made, and a lot of the business buzz at conference was, predictably, about shaky market confidence and the effect it’s having on firms. Someone order some Red Bull: Influence picked up on plenty of grumbling from business types about low-energy and distracted speeches from the ministers who did rock up to their events.

“It’s the last days of Rome,” observed one jaded in-house influencer. They’d of course been hoping to deliver finely-honed messages to ministers on matters of actual policy - only to find a party in full-blown civil war fevered talk of a “coup” and with a bunch of the MPs they wanted to buttonhole steering clear of the whole thing anyway. Spare a thought: For the scores of businesses who’d sorted stalls in the ICC (prices starting at a totally-not-symbolic £6660.00) back in simpler times. LOBBYING BIRMINGHAMĬONFERENCE IS SERIOUS BUSINESS: And so to Birmingham, where the fun never started as the Conservatives’ chaotic conference left more than a few seasoned lobbyists scratching their heads. Please do keep on pitching, leaking and becoming embroiled in ethics scandals - and as ever, hit us up with your comments, tips and complaints.

The thing is: It’s not really a job, is it? We get to gossip with smart people all day, dig into policy rows, and receive actual money for making the same three Eric Pickles surname puns in rotation. Thanks to everyone yet to unsubscribe for somehow keeping us in a job this long. My, how it’s flown! One day you’re desperately trying to hit word count by regurgitating ACOBA releases and dreaming of the big time, the next you’re … well, doing the same, but in a Birmingham conference center with terrible WiFi, a hangover and a nine quid egg sandwich. SELF-INDULGENCE CORNER: Pardon us a brief moment of back-slapping, but Influence is now officially two years old.

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Fosters big fat awesome house party game