Organisers of a Croydon Labour fund-raising karaoke night to be staged at Ruskin House have said privately that they are “disappointed” that Croydon West MP Sarah Jones will be giving the event a miss, after she jetted out to Davos as part of a British government delegation.
Davos delegate: MP Sarah Jones is missing Croydon Labour’s karaoke
Jones won’t even be able to attend her own CLP – constituency Labour Party’s – fund-raising dinner event tomorrow evening. Jones has got a Swiss fondue to look forward to, instead.
Jones is the Minister of State for industry, and is attending the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland, what is described as a “highly curated group of delegates from global business, government, civil society, media and academia… to address the most pressing issues of the day”.
In 2025, the Davos annual meeting of the great and not-so-good is centred on collaboration in the “intelligent age”. Ha! If only!
Croydon MP Jones is part of a Labour government delegation headed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and her departmental boss, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who Whitehall says will be meeting with “leading members of the global business community”, asking, probably begging, them to “back British business”.
A government press release says that Reeves and her team is “the most visible UK government presence in recent years”.
‘The intelligent age’: Davos is hosting the World Economic Forum
The government release described Starmer and Reeves’s government as “unashamedly pro-business… that is slashing burdensome regulation, launching ambitious planning reform, and leveraging our trade relationships with Europe, America, Asia, the Gulf and beyond to help businesses use Britain as their base to connect with exciting global markets”. They might need to re-set that slightly, given what has been announced in Washington this week.
The government’s No1 mission, they say, is “to grow the economy and raise living standards for working people”.
Reynolds said, “Britain is back in business under this government, and our Plan for Change is already delivering for working people.
“The UK is the most connected market on earth, and we will continue to be the home for innovative businesses looking to face outwards to the world. We’ve lifted barriers to investment and secured £63billion at the International Investment Summit, creating thousands of jobs in the process.
“These investments promise better wages, stronger communities, and better services. I’ll be at Davos to build on this momentum.” Which is nice… Pass the fondue tongs when you’re done, Jonny.
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No wonder Sarah Jones is smiling in your photo of her with the article. She has managed to dodge a cringe-worthy Karaoke fund-raising event in Croydon, by being overseas on a work ‘jolly’, and doubtless treating all the other delegates to “Trebles all round”, which she can claim on expenses, so we (taxpayers) end up paying for that.
Even by our usual standards, Jim, that’s a tad cynical.
And anyway, the drinks at Davos tend to be freebies, all paid for by some multi-billion, multi-national vested interest or another, who will be calling in the favours in due course.
Ms Jones will probably be found somewhere near the New Runway for Gatwick stand. Trebles all round indeed!
I don’t think you could possibly find a greater, better example of ‘gaslighting’ than the Govt and Reynold’s words above.