Tim Martin has got investor backing to waive the rules at the Wetherspoons AGM despite press speculation that some institutional investors (i.e those who own much of the Company aside from Martin himself who has 32% of shares, more than enough to give him day to day control) were unhappy about his political activities and a failure to keep them firmly apart from Wetherspoons business.
The FT report is here:
https://www.ft.com/content/694b07f2-0c81-11ea-b2d6-9bf4d1957a67
One wouldnt normally expect small investors (who would be the bulk of attenders at an AGM on the day) to vote against Martin or in most cases probably be bothered about his politics.
The FT report hints that Martin has done some kind of deal with the institutional investors but whether this will make him shut up or even make an effort to keep his personal opinions out of his pubs we shall see.
In the meantime no doubt the efforts of the Bakers Union to get Wetherspoons to pay decent wages will continue. This should concern the institutional investors not least because it is reputational but it doesnt appear to have done.
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