The Government has been warned that UK pubs ‘won’t survive’ after Labour’s Budget tax increases.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, announced that she would hike employer national insurance payments on October 30.
A higher minimum wage will also have to be paid to employees.
Now, a hospitality expert has warned that the nation’s pubs are facing a ‘severe crisis’.
Sacha Lord, a night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, shared figures from the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Claire Cooper MP.
He posted on X: “From April, pubs with £100,000 rateable value will see Business Rates jump by £19,000 per year.”
Mr Lord then said landlords will need to sell an additional 60,000 pints a year.
This would be £1,200 pints a week, or 170 extra pints every day.
Mr Lord added: “That’s before rising energy bills, rising wages and other costs.
“Survival won’t be an option for many.”
Reform UK London Assembly Member Alex Wilson told Express.co.uk: “Pubs are at the heart of any successful community, but here in London pubs have already been closing faster than anywhere else in England.
“Rachel Reeves’ poorly thought-out budget will deliver yet another blow to an industry still reeling from the devastating impact of lockdown and lack of support from London’s Mayor and local authorities.
“The 1p cut in draft beer is a smokescreen – the real cost of this budget with its National Insurance hike and business rates cash grab will put many pubs at risk of closure.
“Labour claims to stand up for working people but it’s young and part-time workers who will bear the brunt of this pernicious assault on the hospitality sector. Only Reform UK will put ordinary hard-working Londoners first.”
