With pubs facing the toughest circumstances since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all forms of hospitality, local MP Graham Stuart is celebrating local pubs in his Beverley and Holderness constituency as Chancellor Rachel Reeves chooses to hammer pubs across the UK.
He is encouraging people to share what makes their locals great on his website. He has also written to all 97 pubs in Beverley and Holderness to offer his personal support for their businesses.
Pubs play a vital role in our communities, providing not just food and drink but employment and increasingly social events such as karaoke, quizzes and much more besides.
Rachel Reeves’ October Budget of Broken Promises has seen pubs lose hospitality rates relief, which gave hospitality businesses a 75% reduction in their business rates, has been reduced to 40%. This was available up to a £110,000 cap.
This measure was introduced by the Conservative government as part of its efforts to keep businesses going during the pandemic. It was extended ever since due to its success in keeping successful pubs, restaurants and cafes open.
Reeves has further hammered pubs by increasing the Minimum Wage (which is paid by businesses, not the government), in particular a 16.3% increase for 18-20 year olds.
Alongside the Jobs Tax, which not only increases the rate by almost 9% but reduces the threshold on which National Insurance is paid to £5,000 from £9,000 – a move which penalises employers, like pubs, which make use of part time labour.
With 200,000 businesses already closed since the Budget, Graham hopes to see great pubs across East Yorkshire celebrated and promoted.
Graham has been a leading critic of Rachel Reeves’ Budget in the House of Commons, attacking it for axing pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowance, hiking Stamp Duty (particularly for First Time Buyers), introducing the Family Farm Tax and hiking the Jobs Tax.
Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, commented, “The Local is one of Britain’s greatest cultural assets and people love their pubs.
“As Rachel Reeves is hammering our locals, I’m determined to celebrate and promote pubs which do great things for the local area.
“So if you love your local, let me shout about it by letting me know here.”
