Saturday, December 28, 2024

Wetherspoon boss: I’m not backing any political party this year

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His remarks suggest Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has failed to impress him after he appeared to lavish praise on the Labour leader last year.

Sir Tim, 69, had said he was “never a Conservative supporter” and had backed Mr Johnson because of his belief in Brexit, adding that he would vote for  Sir Keir if he put forward “a decent set of policies”.

He was knighted in the New Year Honours for services to businesses and hospitality after building JD Wetherspoon into a nationwide pub chain with more than 800 outlets.

The nomination – thought to have taken into account his support for Brexit – was hailed by Mr Farage, the leader of Reform, and Conservative politicians including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.

He has since described Brexit as a “vexed issue” and said “exaggerated claims” were made by both sides, but has stood by his support for Britain’s exit from the bloc.

Sir Tim emerged as a prominent lockdown sceptic in the early days of the Covid pandemic, warning that the hospitality industry had been left “on its knees” by social distancing laws.

Wetherspoon posted a rise in sales last month, with Sir Tim crediting a boom in demand for “fashionable” Guinness, which has enjoyed a rise in popularity, fuelled in part by social media trends.

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