Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [Lords]

Debate between Alison McGovern and Saqib Bhatti

Report stage & 3rd reading & 3rd reading: House of Commons & Report stage: House of Commons
Thursday 11th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

My hon. Friend, with her experience, makes a very good argument: it is important that we spread the burden. In any case—

[Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con)]

rose—

[Alison McGovern]

If Members want to make arguments against taxation, who am I to stop them?

[Saqib Bhatti]

Prior to entering the House, I was the president of the Greater Birmingham chambers of commerce—

--- Later in debate ---

[Saqib Bhatti]

I realised that as soon as I said it, so I appreciate that intervention.

The hon. Member has said that the coronavirus has impacted jobs. Surely an additional levy—an additional cost—impacting demand is not something that businesses in the west midlands would want.

[Alison McGovern]

I welcome the hon. Member to the House. He has worked in the service of a city and a region of our country that is one of the finest anywhere, so I applaud his work in that. I simply disagree with him. I am sure he is right about the situation that tourism businesses are in. The problem is that we need local authorities to be sustainable, so that they can provide the environment in which those tourism businesses can succeed.