An Injection of Cash

Let me get this straight: Boris Johnson is organising the G7 meeting at the Carbis Bay Hotel in Cornwall this week in order to inject some much-needed money into the local economy. His words, not mine.

For starters, it's very hard to get a booking at the Carbis Bay Hotel, or indeed any hotel - the rooms can be sold many times over in the high season, so no gain there. If they were to be booked in the low season, then there's a good argument that it would indeed inject some cash into the local economy. It's a simple question of supply and demand - if accommodation is in short supply, then there's no additional money; if there's an excess of accommodation, then it is indeed a welcome boost.

Secondly, it's highly unlikely that the G7 delegates would be availing themselves of the local facilities in St Ives and distributing their largesse - the security would simply be a nightmare. I can't really see Angela Merkel or Emmanuel Macron Go Karting in Hayle or playing Crazy Golf in St Erth, much as it would be hilarious. They'll be ensconced within the security ring for the entire week, so no economic gain there. Your average Joe Punter certainly would be spreading some lolly locally.

Thirdly, those who booked the hotel would expect a huge discount for the block booking - discounts not available to the average punter who has been shut out of the venue. I suppose there is an outside chance than the owner of the hotel is a member of Boris' Chumocracy and is being allowed to charge an exorbitant room rate in return for a donation to the Tory Party, but I think it unlikely. Actually.....

PC Penhale might get some additional overtime, but that's unlikely to transform the economy.

Talking of the police, it has been reported that some 130 homeless people have been turfed out of their council-funded accommodation to make way for the extra police that will be drafted in from other areas. So, that is an injection of cash, but at a cost to the local homeless people. Given this was temporary accommodation for the duration of the Covid crisis, you could argue this would have happened anyway to make room for paying guests.

No - this is merely another of Boris' meaningless PR stunts that he hopes the public can't see through. It's almost as if those advising him have never actually run a business before.

There is an outside chance Boris will persuade the other 6 world leaders and their staff to have a go on the UK's longest zip wire at the St Ives Holiday Park. He has previous in this respect.

There again, we may see the emergence of the Carbis Bay Hotel variant of Covid.