Many Northumberland hospitality business are promoting & participating in this campaign.
The campaign asks –
Do you want to back your favourite venue, help your high street and support local jobs? Then sign our petition to lower the rate of VAT for hospitality to 10%.
Our pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, nightclubs and many more, are at the heart of our communities.
They bring people together and bring life to our cities, towns and villages, but they’re under huge pressure from rising costs.
In the UK, you pay one of the highest VAT rates in Europe. 20% extra in VAT for your meal out or stay away. In France, Spain and Italy, it’s 10%. In Germany? 7%.
Our message to Government is simple. Let’s stand together to say VAT at 10% is fair for Hospitality.
County Cllr Gordon Stewart said ‘ Pubs, cafe’s and other hospitality businesses are the heart beat of all British communities, so important for employment, it’s becoming more evident that they support the local infrastructure and economy as well as the welfare of residents, at a time when mental health is at the root of many issues.
Such businesses are renowned for working with and supporting local producers and suppliers.
We have seen so many pubs and other businesses close in all areas as they struggle with changing habits, rising costs such as produce & utilities.
The rise in the living wage has added to business costs, as a consequence employers have reluctantly laid local people off and stopped recruitment.
Many of those people are the least resilient when losing their income.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-living-wage-increases-to-1271-per-hour
Tax allowances have been frozen.
https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates
This Government has imposed two very damaging taxes upon such businesses,
Raising the employers NI contributions rate from 13.8% to 15% and lowering the threshold where employers start paying from £9,100 to £5,000.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters
Business rates being hiked at a devastating rate.
https://www.gov.uk/find-business-rates
High Street Crisis: high business rates force shop and pub closures, destroying town centres.
Unfair Burden: physical businesses suffer a disadvantage compared to online retailers.
Stifling Growth:
High taxes punish entrepreneurship and discourage investment.
Check out what business rates are required, the level is set by the Government not as some believe the local authority-
https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/business-rates-find/search
All the above creates a perfect storm. With residents having less money in their ‘pockets’ and the local economy taking a dive that only the Government can reverse this decline.
I support this campaign.
Please Shop local, visit Prudhoe help support #PrudhoeBusiness
To retain / create @TynedaleJobs
Prudhoe Matters 