'BLOODBATH' ON HIGH STREET IF LABOUR PILES ON THE TAX

THE high street faces a “bloodbath” of pubs and shops shutting, killing off tens of thousands of jobs, unless crushing tax burdens are lifted in the Budget.

- BY DAVID WILLIAMSON Chief Political Commentator

Business leaders fear that a fresh raid by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on November 26 will strike the death blow to employers across all industries pushed to the brink by last year’s tax hikes.

The British Beer and Pubs Association is braced for a surge in costs it calculates could force more than 2,000 pubs to close with the loss of over 12,000 jobs. Kate Nicholls, who chairs trade body UK Hospitality, warned this is a "make or break" moment for an industry where people are being "taxed out of business".

She said: “We've had 13 consecutive months of falling employment and 170,000 fewer people on payroll since last year’s Budget ~ a shocking indictment of the damage caused by those measures”

Ms Nicholls warned that two venues are shutting each day, with the sector “accounting for more than half of al job losses across the economy”.

Big names in brewing and hospitality and the BBPA have written to Ms Reeves to say the “end of business rates relief and next year’s revaluation of commercial properties” are expected to push up rates bills by more than half.

‘Those venues have been able to claim 40% relief ~ capped at £110,000 - but that will end in April.

‘There are also strong fears in retail that higher employment costs, even more red tape and changes to business rates will force shops to let workers go.

VULNERABLE

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association, said: “Pre-election we were promised a fairer rates system and lower rates.