WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has backed a campaign which calls on the chancellor to reduce the punitive extra costs imposed on British pubs.
And the MP met with the chief executive of Greene King pubs to hear how the hospitality industry is suffering from increased wage costs, higher National Insurance payments and increased business rates.
Throughout the summer, Dame Harriett has been meeting with hospitality businesses to hear how rising costs are damaging their prospects.
Greene King’s 613 landlords have signed an open letter to the Chancellor calling for her to give the pubs some breathing space as premises copes with major additional costs born from Labour’s budget adjustments in their first year in Government.
The Fox Inn at Bransford is facing a business rates hike of £11,004 and the Crown Inn at Hallow’s costs are up by £4,890.
Dame Harriett said: “Throughout the summer I have been hearing depressing stories of the impact rising costs have had on our local boozers.
“There are two Greene King pubs in West Worcestershire and it was really useful to hear the testimony from the chain’s chief executive about how this is enraging landlords up and down the land.
“Greene King would like breathing space, but I’d go further than that and call on the Chancellor to have a total rethink.
“Pubs are under severe pressure. They are important local employers and offer work to many young people. The Government should be doing more to support them, not pulling the rug from under their feet.”
The backing comes in the wake of recent analysis of Office for National Statistics data by UKHospitality which shows a loss of 89,000 jobs in the sector since Labour’s autumn budget. This figure accounts for over half of all UK jobs losses in the same period.
The Department for Business and Trade has been approached for comment.
