Curry. Nothing like it. It’s long been a staple of British life.
There are 12,000 curry houses in the UK, found in spots such as Manchester’s Curry Mile and Birmingham’s Balti Triangle. London’s Brick Lane is home to 23. And they are under threat.
The cost of living crisis – hitting everyone and everywhere so hard – means the beloved venues are closing at the rate of one a day. Rising prices for basic ingredients coupled with people not being able to afford to eat out is creating the perfect storm.
There are an estimated 100,000 people working in the sector. And it’s no exaggeration to say all those jobs are on the line.
“Curry,” says industry boss Jeffrey Ali, “Has very high labour and ingredient costs compared to other cuisines. The industry desperately needs support.”
He’s right. Support needs to come - and fast.
It’s not just the curry sector. Across the board, businesses – and individuals – are crying out for support. For help in a time of crisis. And it’s not coming.
We were promised, after the chaos of Johnson, and the forty-odd days of Truss, that politics would be calm and serious again. That the new PM would have a new approach, would be focused and have a lower profile.
Well, he has such a low profile he’s disappeared.
We know conditions are tough and there are factors beyond the control of government.
But there are things that can be done. There just needs to be the political will and determination to do so.
Salim Chowdhury has owned and run Coriander in Harrow for a decade. He says: “It’s not about making money, it’s about surviving. It’s just keeping your head above water.”
It’s the same for all of us.
Yankee dawdle...
This week’s England vs USA World Cup game was, to put it mildly, not great. Dull, drab, lacking in any sort of flair and excitement.
Get ready for the exact opposite on Tuesday night. England vs Wales was going to be big anyway. Now it’s going to be massive.
Let’s hope for a great game. And - of course - the right result.
