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To be clear, the sector isn’t asking to Every one of the businesses who spoke to
contribute nothing: they’re simply asking Andrew Bowie MP has a passionate owner,
to be treated fairly. Besides, there will be someone whose dream is becoming a
even less VAT pouring in to the Treasury if nightmare as they take more upon
the whole sector implodes, and that’s themselves, just to make ends meet.
before you even get to the job losses and Many of us started our careers working in
costs to the economy of supporting those hospitality in some way, waiting tables
out of work. whilst still at school, or a part-time bar job
whilst studying – these roles sit among the
Worse still, it is impossible for hospitality low-cost labour that props us the
businesses to escape: if ingredient or staff hospitality sector more than any other I can
costs rise, as they have, prices need to go think of. In my teens I was a function
up. If you increase your prices, you need waiter, staff at the old airport restaurant
to keep more cash aside to pay the VAT and latterly a barman. Many of us will have
bill every quarter – just imagine having to fond memories of working in the sector but
park one fifth of your business sales as things stand, those opportunities for our
revenue just to send it all away four times children, are hanging in the balance.
a year, and yet, that’s exactly what this
industry does for the Treasury. Someone So why am I so passionate about
I know even described himself as feeling supporting this cause, and urging others to
like a tax collector. do the same? Simply, as I said to those
around me at that meeting, because their
I anticipate a lot more noise around this success is our success. The supply chain is
issue in the coming weeks and months, as reliant upon these fantastic businesses
and I implore you to listen be sympathetic as they are upon your custom through their
and add your support when you see doors.
petitions online. The affected businesses
provide us with so much. They can be a We need to spell it out, loud and clear, that
refuge, a safe haven, great food, that politicians and decision makers can’t have
warming coffee, a sweet treat all lovingly their cake and eat it: very soon they might
prepared and served. not even get cake.
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