Rachael Hamilton

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES

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KNOW from personal experience how hard it is to make a living in the hospitality sector. Whether it’s hotels, short-term lets, pubs, cafes or restaurants, these are businesses that require very hard work, with long and unsociable hours.

They require dedication, commitment and a willingness to go the extra mile for customers. They operate on very tight margins and are much more susceptible than most to the vagaries of the economy.

When times are tough, holidays and going out are one of the first things people cut back on — and at the same time the pressures of energy bills, food prices and higher taxes make life harder for operators.

There’s a new danger, however, that makes it likely that a significant number of these businesses will go to the wall unless action is taken.

The revaluation that is being conducted on non-domestic rates (NDR) has seen some firms given huge increases that could, for many operators, put them out of business.

Yesterday, the Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and I, together with Craig Hoy, the shadow finance secretary, met business leaders to call for a pause and an urgent rethink.

The jump in costs is staggering. Many firms have reported rises of 100 per cent, with the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC)