BACTA RESEARCH CONFIRMS THE POTENTIAL SIZE OF ITS PARLIAMENTARY LOBBY

Bacta’s mapping exercise which has seen the trade association create the first Geo Political Footprint of the UK industry has underlined the transformation of the political terrain following the 2024 General Election.

Matching members of the UK trade association with their elected representatives the Bacta Political Map confirms that 325 of the 650 constituencies have at least one Bacta member - generating a potential lobby which numbers exactly 50 percent of the House of Commons.

Following its landslide election victory the Labour Party has 221 constituencies in which there is at least one Bacta member, a figure which is up 122 on the previous Parliament. The Conservative party has just 59 constituencies with a Bacta member connection (- 116) with the Liberal Democrats having 28 constituencies which feature Bacta members (+ 19).

In Scotland, the decline of the Scottish Nationalist Party vote means that there are only three Bacta member constituencies a decrease of 25. Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has three constituencies which have Bacta members (+1) with the Welsh Nationalist Party, Plaid Cymru down four with just two constituencies. The new Reform UK party is up four with all five of its MPs having Bacta member constituents.

Executive Director George McGregor stated: “To have Bacta representation in 325 constituencies is a major opportunity to present the industry’s case from the perspective of a constituent, which is a powerful way to create a dialogue and to influence thinking.

“The political complexion of the breakdown will enable us to fine tune our arguments in relation to the reforms required to create a level playing field and in the process enable Bacta members to create employment opportunities, support the tourism agenda and to continue to invest in local economies both on the high street and at the coast.”