Industry and Parliament Trust’s Post

Top of the discussion agenda should be to pressure and convince local councils around the UK to charge commercial rates on all rental properties owned by investors. Such properties are the only commercial/business properties in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia that do not pay commercial rates for what is clearly a property owned exclusively for the purpose of earning an income.  A residential property is one which is owned for the purpose of use by the owner as their residence.  Rental properties do not fit this legal description, but do fit the definition of a commercial property, used for the purpose of generating an income.  This tax loophole generously given to landlords is unjustified and unfair to all other ratepayers.

🫤 Really disappointed to see reports that a fellow Deputy has called for colleagues to "get off their backsides and start working" in response to the low number of propositions lodged. The role of a Parliamentarian is not simply to lodge propositions. It is also not the sole way to effect change. I would argue that often more change and progress comes from the work behind the scenes such as: 👉 conducting Scrutiny reviews, holding government to account and publishing reports with recommendations 👉 holding meetings with groups, government officers and members of the public in order to change internal policies to work in the best interests of people (internal policies do not always need law changes) 👉 meeting directly with constituents and guiding them through processes or advising them of routes and things available to them so that they can achieve their goals. The above is just 3 examples. All of the above do not involve propositions to debate and are just as effective and often more so in getting good positive change to happen. 🙏🏼 I have had the pleasure & honour of being a Deputy for 6 years now. In that time , I have not always bought propositions forward. The few propositions and amendments I have lodged, have always been well researched and targeted and elicited worthwhile debate. Throughout the past 6 years, I have worked solidly to support the public I serve and work tirelessly to do so, often to the detriment of my own well being. My work output, and that of my colleagues, should not be measured by the number of propositions and amendments we have done, but on the positive effect on change and people we have had, which I hope is evident for most. 💭 Maybe these comments show that more work needs to be done to raise wider public awareness & training for Deputies of what the role of a Parliamentarian actually involves and the ways we can effect change. Something I can take back to my Political Awareness and Education Sub-Committee.

Three ways to meet someone who turns down a direct request! In Government affairs, when you lobby, there will be people who will not want to meet you.... what do you do? 1. Find common ground with someone they do want to meet and get a shared meeting. 2. Look for events they participate in, show up and bump into them. 3. Go via your trade association. And if none of this works? Maybe there is someone else you can meet with instead.... Other suggestions? Please share! I help clients globally develop Government Affairs Strategies anchored in business priorities, underpinned by relevant KPIs and implementation measures.

Are you struggling to secure that meeting? In Government affairs, when you lobby, sometimes policy makers have no interest in meeting with you, these are three ways to meet someone who turns down a direct request: 1. Find common ground with someone they do want to meet and get a shared meeting. 2. Look for events they participate in, show up and bump into them. 3. Go via your trade association. And if none of this works? Maybe there is someone else you can meet with instead. Other suggestions? Please share!

5 year plan with 18 hours work per day Case Study: Ji 1. Election work - 2 years incl planning, implementation, follow up, physical campaign, travel, etc 2. Foreign Travel - 6 months 3. Inauguration & Events: 6 months incl opening ceremonies, waving off trains, waving in empty tunnels, seminars, conclaves, etc + travel 4. Prep work for next term - 6 months 5. Friends with benefits - 6 months incl instructing govt authorities, ED, CBI, IT, amending existing rules, creating new laws, lobbying with state heads abroad, etc 6. Work of National Interest - 1 year

Do you want to know what happened during the INDEED Policy Forum held online on 27-28 June? 📃 The event report summarises the main takeaways and key points from the two-day event, read it below:

The PFS POWER panel published guidance on how to adopt a consumer outcome approach at the PFS National Conference in Manchester. Find out more and read the guide here: https://ow.ly/G5bH50U5X25

One way to get more involved with IAEM is to join a committee. IAEM has two types of committees: Ad Hoc and Standing Committees. Standing Committees are bodies with an ongoing, operational function. These groups include Awards, Bylaws, Conference, DEI, Editorial, EMEX, Government Affairs, Membership, and Nominations & Credentials Committees. Learn more about how to get involved with a Standing Committee here: https://loom.ly/ylVEAE0

Some powerful insights in this new report around the challenges of managing the costs of travel to school. This is a particular pressure for county councils, but affects all upper tier authorities. Some great case studies highlighting what CAN be done locally, despite national trends, as well as recommendations for wider changes.

Who is the most interesting to watch?? the non-existent commissioner on social affairs! UvdL really wants to abolish that portfolio, or rather hide it under "people skills and preparedness", but surely there are more portfolios which could be relevant here: # Justice (as in social justice - but that Commissioner shall focus on "rule of law" and thus formal justice...), # Preparedness (should that include being prepared for the slow but steady conquest of the far right? Their followers are among others motivated by social exclusion - so will that portfolio include the quest for social justice?) # clean just and competitive transition - another potential home for social justice. Speaking of the far right: it is dangerous to overlook the potential cleavage between environmental policy and social policy - just think of the yellow wests or those protests in Southern Germany against a modern railway station. # economy & productivity: surely it is a recipe for disaster to promote productivity without thinking of the position of those doing the actual production? But the subheading "implementation and simplification" does not seem to bode well for workers' rights... So, Ursula, I am really trying to see any remnants of the C in your German party affiliation here, which was the home of grand social policy plans in the past. You seem to consider that is thinking of the past - but neglecting social justice may well propel the EU back to the past! Now, what can the EP do? MEPs can take a positive approach, and start each round of questions with the sentence: "The absence of a dedicated department for employment and social justice surely indicates that this commission is going to take Article 9 TFEU seriously (footnote: thats the one committing the EU to take social policy requirements into account in all policies and activities - see here: https://lnkd.in/eQwWsNkW ). So, explain how you will further high levels of employment, guarantee of adequate social protection, fight against social inclusion and high levels of education, training and protection of human health within the scope of your portfolio? Also, explain with which other departments you shall collaborate to that end and how you will organise that collaboration? Just an idea...