Sacha Lord Issues Freedom of Information Request Over Budget Impact on Hospitality
“I’ve been in this industry for over 30 years and have
never known the sector to be so demoralised” says Sacha
Lord.
In December 2025, Sacha Lord instructed lawyers to issue a Freedom of Information Request to HM Treasury.
Calling the recent Budget “catastrophic” and expressing concern as to the “raft of closures” it will force within the Hospitality industry, Lord demanded answers as to the checks carried out prior to its announcement.
The 11-point request sought extensive documentation from the Treasury covering the period of January 2023 to November 26th 2025 - the date of the Budget announcement.
Requested documentation includes:
- Access to ministerial submissions, economic appraisals, impact assessments, and correspondence with key industry bodies
- Details of any consultation or information received from major trade organisations including UK Hospitality, the British Retail Consortium and the British Beer and Pub Association, as well as communications from government departments including Business and Trade, Culture, Media and Sport, and Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Distributional analysis showing expected winners and losers by sector, region, rateable value band, business size, and property type, in addition to Green Book-style economic appraisals examining the chosen policy option against alternatives
- Copies of ministerial briefings, Q&A packs and speaking notes prepared for announcements and stakeholder engagements, suggesting Lord is preparing to scrutinise the government’s communication strategy around the reforms
Should the Treasury determine that the cost of responding exceeds statutory limits, Lord’s legal team requested guidance on how the request could be refined to remain within the cost threshold.
