'We can't even dream about growth, this year is about survival': Kent's businesses react to spring statement

A business from Kent has told us they 'can't even dream about growth and that it's just about surviving'.

Yesterday the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced cuts to welfare benefits and made no pledges to support local business owners.

She also confirmed the UK's growth forecast for 2024 had been halved, from two percent to one percent.

Claire Tierney is the owner of Smoqe in Rochester and she said: "You are gambling on the assertion that all the businesses will survive to generate the money the government need and Rachel Reeves is deluded if she think's that's going to happen.

"Business will close if there is no more support, for example, my restaurant can't even dream about growth, this it's just about surviving, but we shouldn't even be in the situation, our priority shouldn't be survival."

Tim Aker works for the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent and Medway, and he explains the struggle for owners currently, he said: "If you're in hospitality, leisure or tourism, your rate relief changes, going from a generous relief to a lower one.

"National insurance is going up, the living wage is going up, the minimum wage is going up and these are all pressures on small businesses at a time when consumers are cutting back and this has a domino affect across the high street."