Sacha Lord ‘concerned for the north’ ahead of chancellor’s Spring Statement

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Manchester’s night time economy tsar Sasha Lord has voiced concerns over the state of the hospitality industry ahead of the chancellor’s Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement.

Many in the restaurant and bar business have expressed fears that when VAT increases back to pre-pandemic levels next month it could spell disaster for their businesses. “I am concerned for the North.

At a time when we are supposed to be levelling up, we are only seeing the divide between rich and poor widen,” said Lord. "The Chancellor says tax increases are needed now in order to calm future fiscal problems, but while this long term view is commendable, it is critically short sighted when so many are suffering financially today, and having to make choices on whether to spend their wages on food or heating. "The hospitality sector is well known for employing college leavers or those needing flexible careers in order to care for children or elderly parents, and it is a vital employer in some of the most deprived areas of our region.” Though it’s thought that Sunak will introduce some measures to ease the pressure, like cutting fuel duty, some, like former cabinet minister John Redwood have said that the action will be ‘too little, too late’.

The planned increase in National Insurance contributions is also likely to go through, despite calls for the 1.25% hike to be at least postponed while households in the UK face unprecedented rises in cost of living and sky-rocketing energy prices. Read more : Read more : But it’s thought that Sunak may decide to move the threshold, so that lower-paid workers - those earning less than £27,500 - won’t be included in the plans.